Why Go?Santo Domingo, or ‘La Capital’ as it’s typically called, is a collage of cultures and neighborhoods. It’s where the sounds of life – domino pieces slapped on tables, backfiring mufflers and horns from chaotic traffic, merengue and bachata (Do-minican music) blasting from corner stores – are most in-tense. At the heart of the city is the Zona Colonial, where you’ll find one of the oldest churches and the oldest sur-viving European fortress among other New World firsts. Amid the cobblestone streets, it would be easy to forget Santo Domingo is in the Caribbean. But this is an intensely urban city, home not only to colonial-era architecture, but also to hot clubs, vibrant cultural institutions and elegant restaurants. Santo Domingo somehow manages to embody the contradictions central to the Dominican experience: a living museum, a metropolis crossed with a seaside resort, and a business, political and media center with a laid-back, casual spirit.

When to Go¨¨ The city hosts a blowout merengue festival in July and a

three-day Latin music event in October. Baseball is played almost five nights a week at Estadio Quisqueya, from the end of October to the end of January. Carnaval, at the end of February and beginning of March, is a big deal in the capital.

¨¨ Hurricane season, from August through December, means strong rains and developing storms can be a threat, though sunshine usually prevails. On average September sees the most precipitation and February the least.

POP 2 MiLLiOn

Santo Domingo

Best Places to Eat¨¨ Pat’e Palo (p66)

¨¨ il Cappucino (p67)

¨¨ Antica Pizzeria (p66)

¨¨ Adrian Tropical (p67)

Best Places to Stay¨¨ Hostal nicolás de Ovando

(p64)

¨¨ El Beaterío Guest House (p63)

¨¨ Hotel Villa Colonial (p63)

¨¨ Hotel Atarazana (p63)

Sights...........................48Courses.........................61Tours..............................61Festivals.&.Events........ 62Sleeping....................... 62Eating........................... 65Drinking.&.Nightlife..... 69Entertainment.............. 70Shopping.......................71

#_

©Lonely¨Planet¨Publications¨Pty¨Ltd

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