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From the Dominican Republic World / Stories
History of Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo’s early streets tell a story of settlement, relocation and defense beside the Ozama River. Its later history includes raids and changes of colonial control across Hispaniola.
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A Spanish settlement began on the river’s east bank in the 1490s. After a destructive hurricane in 1502, Governor Nicolás de Ovando rebuilt it on the west bank, where the Zona Colonial developed. The street plan, fortress and civic buildings make that shift legible on foot. Francis Drake’s capture of the city in 1586 and later contests for the island show why fortification mattered.
Useful to know
Read the river and Fortaleza Ozama together; defense and trade shaped this site.
Use the Zona Colonial street plan to follow the west-bank city built after 1502.
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Original World content and translations, shown as supplied. Practical information may need updating.
Dominican Republic / Tours & Travel
My day 00
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