Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine April 2017 | Page 205

Santo Domingo Santo Domingo is one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean. It is the capital of the Dominican Republic, the country’s largest city and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is a melange of old-world architecture and new world attractions, a blend of relics from its European past and its modern, eclectic present. A vibrant atmosphere pervades throughout the city in the day and night. Trendy shops and restaurants beckons, museums await the lovers of history, locals bustle about their business while the sweet sounds of Latin music permeates the atmosphere. Great place to visit. Photo Credit: Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism Altos de Chavón Created by Dominican architect, Jose Antonio Caro and Italian designer Roberto Coppa, this is a replica of a 16th century Mediterranean village. A huge tourist attraction, a tour will take you through the village with its beautifully crafted cobblestone streets where the superb architecture and views of Chavón River and the Caribbean Sea are guaranteed to leave you spell bound. This is considered to be one of the most beautiful destinations in the Caribbean. The village is home to an art gallery, shops, boutiques, an archaeological museum, church, amphitheatre and the Altos de Chavón School of Design. Photo Credit: Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism Cathedral of Santa María la Menor Located in Santo Domingo’s colonial zone, this is a 16th century Spanish-colonial style building and the oldest Cathedral in the New World. Constructed from coral limestone, its Gothic and Baroque architecture makes it an impressive building both inside and out. From its double-arched entranceway to the altar made mainly of silver, this Cathedral is one of the country’s most visited attractions. Photo Credit: Li Tsin Soon