Santo Domingo - wikipedia Santo Domingo This article is about the city. For other uses, see Santo Domingo ( disambiguation ). Note : `` D.N. '' ( Distrito Nacional ) strictly refers to the city proper, i.e. excluding the surrounding Santo Domingo Province. City in National District, Dominican Republic Santo Domingo City Santo Domingo de Guzmán Flag Coat of arms Motto ( s ) : `` Ciudad Primada de América '' ( in Spanish ) ( `` First City of America '' ) Santo Domingo Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Coordinates : 18 ° 28 ′ N 69 ° 57 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 18.467 ° N 69.950 ° W ﻿ / 18.467 ; - 69.950 Coordinates : 18 ° 28 ′ N 69 ° 57 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 18.467 ° N 69.950 ° W ﻿ / 18.467 ; - 69.950 Country Dominican Republic Province National District Founded 5 August 1498 ( 520 years ago ) Founder Bartholomew Columbus Named for Saint Dominic Government Mayor David Collado Area Total 104.44 km ( 40.32 sq mi ) Metro 2,696.69 km ( 1,041.20 sq mi ) Elevation 14 m ( 46 ft ) Population ( December 2010 ) Total 965,040 Metro 2,908,607 Demonym ( s ) Spanish : Capitaleño ( fem. Capitaleña ) Time zone AST Postal codes 10100 -- 10699 ( Distrito Nacional ) Area codes 809, 829, 849 Website Ayuntamiento del Distrito Nacional Santo Domingo ( Spanish pronunciation : ( ˈsanto ðoˈmiŋɡo ) meaning `` Saint Dominic '' ), officially Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic and the largest metropolitan area in the Caribbean by population. In 2010, its population was counted as 965,040, rising to 2,908,607 when its surrounding metropolitan area was included. The city is coterminous with the boundaries of the Distrito Nacional ( `` D.N. '', `` National District '' ), itself bordered on three sides by Santo Domingo Province. Founded by Bartholomew Columbus in 1496, on the east bank of the Ozama River and then moved by Nicolás de Ovando in 1502 to the west bank of the river, the city is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, and was the first seat of the Spanish colonial rule in the New World. Santo Domingo is the site of the first university, cathedral, castle, monastery, and fortress in the New World. The city 's Colonial Zone was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Santo Domingo was called Ciudad Trujillo ( Spanish pronunciation : ( sjuˈðað tɾuˈxiʝo ) ), from 1936 to 1961, after the Dominican Republic 's dictator, Rafael Trujillo, named the capital after himself. Following his assassination, the city resumed its original designation. Santo Domingo is the cultural, financial, political, commercial and industrial center of the Dominican Republic, with the country 's most important industries being located within the city. Santo Domingo also serves as the chief seaport of the country. The city 's harbor at the mouth of the Ozama River accommodates the largest vessels, and the port handles both heavy passenger and freight traffic. Temperatures are high year round, with a cool breeze around winter time. Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2.1 Climate 3 Cityscape 3.1 Architecture 3.2 Neighborhoods 4 Population 5 Government and politics 6 Economy 6.1 Commercial centers 7 Culture 8 Parks and recreational areas 9 Health 10 Education 11 Transportation 11.1 Roads and highways 11.2 Main avenues 11.3 Public transportation 11.4 Airports 11.5 Seaport 12 Sports 12.1 Baseball 12.2 Basketball 12.3 Sports clubs 13 Media 13.1 Television 13.2 Radio 14 International relations 14.1 Twin towns -- Sister cities 15 Gallery 16 People from Santo Domingo 17 See also 18 References 19 Bibliography 20 External links History See also : Timeline of Santo Domingo and History of the Dominican Republic Arrival of Christopher Columbus. Prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, the native Taíno people populated the island which they called Quisqueya ( mother of all lands ) and Ayiti ( land of high mountains ), and which Columbus later named Hispaniola, including the territory of today 's Republic of Haiti. At the time, the island 's territory consisted of five chiefdoms : Marién, Maguá, Maguana, Jaragua, and Higüey. These were ruled respectively by caciques ( chiefs ) Guacanagarix, Guarionex, Caonabo, Bohechío, and Cayacoa. Dating from 1496, when the Spanish settled on the island, and officially from 5 August 1498, Santo Domingo became the oldest European city in the Americas. Bartholomew Columbus founded the settlement and named it La Nueva Isabela, after an earlier settlement in the north named after the Queen of Spain Isabella I. In 1495 it was renamed `` Santo Domingo '', in honor of Saint Dominic. Santo Domingo came to be known as the `` Gateway to the Caribbean '' and the chief town in Hispaniola from then on. Expeditions which led to Ponce de León 's colonization of Puerto Rico, Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar 's colonization of Cuba, Hernando Cortes ' conquest of Mexico, and Vasco Núñez de Balboa 's sighting of the Pacific Ocean were all launched from Santo Domingo. Ozama Fortress Zona Colonial National pantheon. In June 1502, Santo Domingo was destroyed by a major hurricane, and the new Governor Nicolás de Ovando had it rebuilt on a different site on the other side of the Ozama River. The original layout of the city and a large portion of its defensive wall can still be appreciated today throughout the Colonial Zone, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Diego Colon arrived in 1509, assuming the powers of Viceroy and admiral. In 1512, Ferdinand established a Real Audiencia with Juan Ortiz de Matienzo, Marcelo de Villalobos, and Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon appointed as judges of appeal. In 1514, Pedro Ibanez de Ibarra arrived with the Laws of Burgos. Rodrigo de Alburquerque was named repartidor de indios and soon named visitadores to enforce the laws. In 1586, Francis Drake captured the city and held it for ransom. Drake 's invasion signaled the decline of Spanish dominion over Hispaniola, which was accentuated in the early 17th century by policies that resulted in the depopulation of most of the island outside of the capital. An expedition sent by Oliver Cromwell in 1655 attacked the city of Santo Domingo, but was defeated. The English troops withdrew and took the less guarded colony of Jamaica, instead. In 1697, the Treaty of Ryswick included the acknowledgement by Spain of France 's dominion over the Western third of the island, now Haiti. French and British ships fighting at the battle of Santo Domingo From 1795 to 1822 the city changed hands several times along with the colony it headed. The city was ceded to France in 1795 after years of struggles, it was briefly captured by Haitian rebels in 1801, recovered by France in 1802, and was once again reclaimed by Spain in 1809. In 1821 Santo Domingo became the capital of an independent nation after the Criollo bourgeois within the country, led by José Núñez de Cáceres, overthrew the Spanish crown. The nation was unified with Haiti just two months later. The city and the colony lost much of their Spanish - born peninsular population as a result of these events which caused a great deal of instability and unrest. Juan Pablo Duarte. On 27 February 1844 Santo Domingo was again the capital of a free nation, when it gained its independence from Haiti, led by Dominican nationalist Juan Pablo Duarte. The city was a prize fought over by various political factions over the succeeding decades of instability. In addition, the country had to fight multiple battles with Haiti ; the Battle of 19 March, Battle of 30 March, Battle of Las Carreras, and Battle of Beler, are a few of the most prominent encounters, mentioned in the national anthem and with city streets named after them. In 1861 Spain returned to the country, having struck a bargain with Dominican dictator Pedro Santana whereby the latter was granted several honorific titles and privileges, in exchange for annexing the young nation back to Spanish rule. The Dominican Restoration War began in 1863 however, and in 1865 the country was free again after Spain withdrew. Over the next two - thirds of a century Santo Domingo and the Dominican Republic went through many revolutions, power changes, and occupation by the United States, 1916 -- 24. The city was struck by hurricane San Zenón in 1930, which caused major damage. After its rebuilding, Santo Domingo was known officially as Ciudad Trujillo in honor of dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, who governed from 1930. Following his assassination in 1961 the city was renamed back to Santo Domingo. It was the scene of street fighting during the 1965 United States occupation of the Dominican Republic. The year 1992 marked the 500th anniversary, El Quinto Centenario, of Christopher Columbus ' Discovery of America. The Columbus Lighthouse -- Faro a Colón -- was erected in Santo Domingo in honor of this occasion, with an approximate cost of 400 million Dominican pesos. Geography View of Santo Domingo from space, 2010. The Ozama river flows 148 kilometres ( 92 miles ) before emptying into the Caribbean Sea. Santo Domingo 's position on its banks was of great importance to the city 's economic development and the growth of trade during colonial times. The Ozama River is where the country 's busiest port is located. Climate The average temperature in Santo Domingo varies little, because the tropical trade winds help mitigate the heat and humidity throughout the year. Thanks to these trade winds, Santo Domingo has a tropical climate but seldom experiences the heat that one may expect to find. December through March are the coolest months with hot days with less humidity and fresh nights ( temperatures of 17 to 19 ° C ( 63 to 66 ° F ) ). July through September are the warmest. Santo Domingo averages 1,445 millimetres ( 56.9 in ) of rain annually. Its driest months are from November through April, however, due to the trade winds and mountains to the southwest, rain is seen even during these months. Because its driest month is just below 60 millimetres ( 2.4 in ), Santo Domingo falls under the tropical monsoon climate category under the Köppen climate classification. Like many other cities in the Caribbean, Santo Domingo is very susceptible to hurricanes. Hurricane Georges caused severe destruction in September 1998. The lowest recorded temperature has been 11.0 ° C ( 51.8 ° F ) on 5 February 1951 and 7 January 1957 and the highest is 39.5 ° C ( 103.1 ° F ) on 29 May 2002. Climate data for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic ( 1961 -- 1990, extremes 1909 -- present ) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high ° C ( ° F ) 34.4 ( 93.9 ) 33.9 ( 93 ) 36.0 ( 96.8 ) 37.0 ( 98.6 ) 39.5 ( 103.1 ) 37.2 ( 99 ) 37.8 ( 100 ) 38.8 ( 101.8 ) 36.7 ( 98.1 ) 38.8 ( 101.8 ) 35.0 ( 95 ) 33.5 ( 92.3 ) 39.5 ( 103.1 ) Average high ° C ( ° F ) 29.2 ( 84.6 ) 29.2 ( 84.6 ) 29.6 ( 85.3 ) 30.2 ( 86.4 ) 30.4 ( 86.7 ) 30.8 ( 87.4 ) 31.3 ( 88.3 ) 31.5 ( 88.7 ) 31.4 ( 88.5 ) 31.1 ( 88 ) 30.6 ( 87.1 ) 29.6 ( 85.3 ) 30.4 ( 86.7 ) Daily mean ° C ( ° F ) 24.4 ( 75.9 ) 24.4 ( 75.9 ) 24.9 ( 76.8 ) 25.6 ( 78.1 ) 26.3 ( 79.3 ) 26.9 ( 80.4 ) 27.0 ( 80.6 ) 27.1 ( 80.8 ) 27.0 ( 80.6 ) 26.7 ( 80.1 ) 26.0 ( 78.8 ) 24.9 ( 76.8 ) 25.9 ( 78.6 ) Average low ° C ( ° F ) 19.6 ( 67.3 ) 19.7 ( 67.5 ) 20.2 ( 68.4 ) 21.1 ( 70 ) 22.2 ( 72 ) 22.9 ( 73.2 ) 22.8 ( 73 ) 22.7 ( 72.9 ) 22.7 ( 72.9 ) 22.3 ( 72.1 ) 21.4 ( 70.5 ) 20.3 ( 68.5 ) 21.5 ( 70.7 ) Record low ° C ( ° F ) 11.0 ( 51.8 ) 11.0 ( 51.8 ) 13.3 ( 55.9 ) 15.5 ( 59.9 ) 16.5 ( 61.7 ) 18.6 ( 65.5 ) 18.2 ( 64.8 ) 18.0 ( 64.4 ) 18.0 ( 64.4 ) 17.0 ( 62.6 ) 17.0 ( 62.6 ) 13.0 ( 55.4 ) 11.0 ( 51.8 ) Average rainfall mm ( inches ) 63.0 ( 2.48 ) 56.8 ( 2.236 ) 53.8 ( 2.118 ) 71.9 ( 2.831 ) 187.7 ( 7.39 ) 140.1 ( 5.516 ) 144.6 ( 5.693 ) 177.4 ( 6.984 ) 180.9 ( 7.122 ) 186.8 ( 7.354 ) 99.8 ( 3.929 ) 84.3 ( 3.319 ) 1,447.1 ( 56.972 ) Average rainy days ( ≥ 1.0 mm ) 7.2 5.9 6.1 6.5 10.8 10.1 11.3 11.8 11.3 12.7 9.2 8.6 111.5 Average relative humidity ( % ) 82.5 80.8 79.3 78.8 82.5 83.7 83.8 84.6 85.1 85.7 84.2 83.3 82.9 Mean monthly sunshine hours 229.6 230.5 258.4 253.3 244.2 234.7 229.6 237.7 222.7 207.9 218.8 205.7 2,773.1 Source # 1 : NOAA Source # 2 : Diario Libre ( May record high, and record lows for January and February ), Meteo Climat ( record highs and lows ) Panoramic view of Downtown Santo Domingo overviewing the Botanical Garden. ( 2014 ). View of sky scrapers in the Financial District at the Winston Churchill Avenue from Multi Centro. ( 2014 ). Cityscape Panoramic view of Santo Domingo viewed from the south ( Malecon Center ) Panoramic view of Santo Domingo viewed from midtown ( Novo Centro ) Architecture See also : Ciudad Colonial ( Santo Domingo ) Parque Colón. Many of Santo Domingo 's most notable landmarks are located within the Zona Colonial district of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990. The Colonial Zone, bordered by the Río Ozama, also has an impressive collection of early 16th century buildings, including palatial houses and majestic churches that reflect the architectural style of the late Middle Ages. Fortaleza Ozama The city 's most important historical buildings include the Catedral Santa María La Menor, called La Catedral Primada de América, America 's First Cathedral, which states its distinction ; the Alcázar de Colón, America 's first castle, once the residence of Viceroy of the Indies Don Diego Colón, a son of Christopher Columbus ; the Monasterio de San Francisco, the ruins of the first monastery in the Americas ; the Museo de las Casas Reales, in a monumental complex that includes the former Palace of the Governors and the building of the former Royal Audiencia of Santo Domingo ; the Fortaleza Ozama, the oldest fortress in the Americas ; the Pantéon Nacional, a former Jesuit edifice now hosting the remains of various renowned Dominicans ; and the Dominican Convent, the first convent in the Americas. Plaza de España. On the north end of Calle Las Damas, the restored and expanded Plaza de España is bordered by Las Atarazanas ( former naval yard, now a museum ) and a number of small shops and restaurants. This area was the first European commercial center in the Americas, and is still a hub of activity today. The Alcázar de Colón, having once been the colonial palace of the Columbus family -- beginning with his son Diego -- is now a museum displaying period furniture and decorations. The building was originally built in 1510, and restored to its current appearance in 1952. A 700 million US dollar investment was made in the Port of the Ozama river adjacent to the Ciudad Colonial aiming to turn Santo Domingo into a port of call for luxury cruise ships and including a privately owned marina. The project is being completed by Sans Soucí Ports S.A. Neighborhoods See also : Distrito Nacional Panoramic view of the National District. Neighborhoods of Santo Domingo. The city proper of Santo Domingo is subdivided into incorporated areas ( neighbourhoods ) called sectores which could be considered as small urban towns. All sectores are serviced directly by the municipal mayor 's office. Sector regions : Ciudad ( city ) -- applies to the original older parts of town, many of which date back to the colonial times. Ensanche ( lit. `` widening '' ) -- usually, but not always, applied to the more `` modern '' parts of the city. Villa ( village ) -- the urban outskirts of both the old city of Santo Domingo and the current ( smaller ) National District ; originally they were separate villages, hence their names. Population Young boys playing association football in the Santo Domingo neighborhood of Altos de Arroyo Hondo The demographics of Santo Domingo are similar to other metropolitan areas of the country, except that the population of immigrants ( mainly Haitians ) is larger in the city because of the relative ease of finding work and the economic dynamism compared to other provinces. Santo Domingo, like most of the country, is made up of native - born Dominican mulattos, though there are large numbers of Afro - Dominicans and Euro - Dominicans, as well as a large immigrant community. In fact, over 20 % of the city 's population is immigrants, mainly Haitians. However, there are also recent immigrants from Europe, Asia, as well as other Latin American nations present in the city. The city of Santo Domingo has a significant community of Asians ( mainly Chinese ), Arabs ( mostly Lebanese ), and Europeans ( mostly Spanish and Italian people ) are also present in the city. There are also significant numbers of Venezuelans and Puerto Ricans, in the city, as well as US born Dominicans returning to their parents ' home country. The northeast quadrant of the city is the poorest while the southwest is wealthier. Santo Domingo is also considered one of the epicenters of the growing Dominican middle - class. The city is one of the most economically developed cities in Latin America. Santo Domingo 's population in 2010 was 3.8 million in the metropolitan area. Government and Politics The National Palace, in Santo Domingo Santo Domingo is the center of the national government of the Dominican Republic. The President 's office and ministries, National Congress, Supreme Court of Justice, and other main government institutions are located in the metropolitan area. The city is administered by the Ayuntamiento del Distrito Nacional ( City Hall ), which is responsible for municipal functions. The current mayor of Santo Domingo is David Collado. The `` Policía Nacional '' ( National Police ) and `` Policia Turística '' ( Tourist Police ) ( POLITUR ) are tasked with enforcing city safety. Economy This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( May 2017 ) The city is the center of economic activity in the Dominican Republic. It is where most of the country 's wealth is concentrated and the seat of the national legislature, judicial, and executive government. Many national and international firms have their headquarters or regional offices in Santo Domingo. The city attracts many international firms and franchises such as Ikea, Goldcorp and Barrick due to its location and economic stability. Silver Sun Gallery mall and hotel, 2012. The infrastructure is suitable for most business operations. A key element that has helped the city grow and compete globally is the telecommunications infrastructure. Santo Domingo and the Dominican Republic as whole enjoy a modern and extensive telecommunications system liberalized in the late 1990s which has benefited from extensive foreign investment. This has attracted numerous call centers in recent years. Santo Domingo not only has an excellent telecommunications infrastructure but also a sizeable bilingual population that speaks English. The city 's economic growth can be witnessed in the extensive vertical growth experienced across many of its neighborhoods. The construction boom is reflected in the many high density residential towers, shopping malls, elevated highways, the metro expansion and overall increase in commercial activity. Santo Domingo has a thriving middle class contrasting with the significant pockets of poverty that remain as challenges for the future. Marginalized slum conditions exist mostly in the northeast quadrant of the city with smaller pockets extending across the city. Areas of extensive development include the Poligono Central, which is bordered by the Avenida John F. Kennedy northward 27 February Avenue south, Avenida Winston Churchill to the west and Avenida Máximo Gómez to the east, and is characterized by its mixed development and its very active nightlife. Santo Domingo has areas of high development, among them Serralles, Naco, Arroyo Hondo, Piantini, Urb Fernandez, Ens. Julieta, Paraiso, Los Prados, Bella Vista, Sarasota and other sectors, where most of the middle class can be found. Bella Vista and La Esperilla are currently the fastest growing sectors with large mega - projects. Gazcue belongs to the more traditional southeastern area of the city and is known for its buildings dating from the 1930s to the 1960s. Commercial centers Acropolis Center Ágora Mall Bella Vista Mall Blue Mall Carrefour Diamond Mall Downtown Center Galería 360 IKEA Silver Sun Gallery Malecon Center Novo - Centro Plaza Central Plaza Lama Plaza Las Américas Plaza Naco Sambil Santo Domingo Culture The performing arts are very important in Santo Domingo. The city has its own symphonic orchestra, chamber orchestra, opera company, ballet company, folkloric company, and national theater, including a number of smaller groups. The Plaza of culture is the center of activity, but there are concerts, ballet, folklore, and other performances throughout the city. Casa de Teatro is the gathering place of avant garde artists, actors, and musicians. It stages art and literature exhibitions and offers painting, drama, and dancing courses and monthly contests for poetry, short stories, and other forms of literature. Museo de las Casas Reales Alcázar de Colón. Santo Domingo is the location of numerous museums, many of which are located in the Zona Colonial district. In the Zona Colonial is the Museum of Alcázar, in Diego Colon 's restored palace, the Museum of the Casas Reales, with artefacts of the colonial period and a collection of ancient weapons donated by Trujillo, the Naval Museum of the Atarazanas, in the former naval yards, Museo de la Catedral, Museo Memorial de la Resistencia Dominicana, documenting the struggle for freedom during the regimes of Trujillo and Balaguer, Museo Duarte, dedicated to the hero of Dominican independence, and the World of Ambar Museum. Museo del Ámbar Plaza de la Cultura also houses the city 's most important cultural venues, including the Teatro Nacional ( National Theater ) and various museums ; the Palacio Nacional, which houses the Presidency of the Dominican Republic ; the Palacio de Bellas Artes ( Palace of Fine Arts ), a neoclassical building that is the permanent home of the country 's National Symphony Orchestra ; and the Boulevard 27 de Febrero, a pedestrian promenade located on the busy Avenida 27 de Febrero, which displays works of art from prominent Dominican artists and sculptors. Another attraction is the Centro Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte, a sports complex in the center of Santo Domingo. This complex was used during the 2003 Pan American Games. In the Plaza de la Cultura are the Museum of the Dominican Man, with artifacts from the pre-Columbian Taíno civilization, the National Museum of History and Geography, the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Modern Art. Other museums include the Museo Bellapart, a prominent private collection of 19th - and 20th - Century Dominican painting and sculpture and the Museo Prehispanico, a major private collection of pre-Columbian Taíno art. Parks and recreational areas The city has various parks, many of which are relatively large. Santo Domingo ( D.N ) is surrounded by the Santo Domingo Greenbelt. Mirador Norte Park lies in the north of the city, close to Villa Mella and Mirador Sur Park is located in the southwest section of the city. Mirador del Este is located on the East bank of the Ozama river and it is the seat of the Columbus Lighthouse. Independencia Park and Colón Park are located in Zona Colonial. National Botanical Garden. Other notable parks include : Parque Enriquillo Parque Independencia Parque Metropolitano Las Praderas El Malecón Jardín Botánico Nacional Parque Zoológico Nacional Barrio Chino de Santo Domingo Parque Núñez de Cáceres Parque Iberoamérica Health Private : Diagnostic Center, Advanced Medicine and Telemedicine ( CEDIMAT ) Center for Advanced Medicine Dr. Abel González Advanced Ophthalmology Center and Laser Surgery Medical Center Gonzalez Alcantara West Indian Medical Center Medical Center Corominas Pepin Caribbean Medical Center Dominican Medical Center Medical Center Dominican - Cuban Medical Center Dr. Seaton Medical Center Gazcue Modern Medical Center Real Medical Center Cross Medical Centre Richardson UCE Medical Center Odont Medical Center. Amer. Centrodom - Don Bosco Odont Medical Center. Amer. Centrodom -- Paradise Abreu Clinic United Hearts Clinic Patiño Gómez Clinic Clinic Independence Rodríguez Santos Clinic San Rafael Clinic San Martin Medical Group Health services Dominicans Public : Central Hospital Armed Forces Billini Father Teaching Hospital Dr. Francisco Moscoso Puello Hospital Hospital Dr. Luis E. Aybar ( Morgan ) Hospital Infantil Dr. Robert Reid Cabral Vargas jimenez dental center Hospital Dario Contreras Nonprofit : Centro de Ortopedia y Especialidades CURE International Dr. Cruz Jiminián Clinic General Hospital Health Plaza Dermatology Institute and Skin Surgery Dr. Hubert Bogaert Díaz Dominican Institute of Cardiology Institute of Oncology Dr. Heriberto Pieter Education There are eighteen universities in Santo Domingo, the highest number of any city in the Dominican Republic. Established in 1538, the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo ( UASD ) is the oldest university in the Americas and is also the only public university in the city. Santo Domingo holds the nation 's highest percentage of residents with a higher education degree. Entrance of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo ( UASD ) Other universities include : Universidad Adventista Dominicana ( UNAD ) Universidad APEC ( UNAPEC ) Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo ( INTEC ) Universidad del Caribe ( UNICARIBE ) Universidad Iberoamericana ( UNIBE ) ( UNIBE ) Universidad Católica Santo Domingo ( UCSD ) Universidad de la Tercera Edad ( UTE ) Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago ( UTESA ) Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña ( UNPHU ) Instituto de Ciencias Exactas ( INCE ) Universidad Organización y Método ( O&M ) Universidad Interamericana ( UNICA ) Universidad Eugenio María de Hostos ( UNIREMOS ) Universidad Francisco Henríquez y Carvajal ( UFHEC ) Universidad Instituto Cultural Domínico Americano ( UNICDA ) Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra ( PUCMM ) Universidad de Psicologia Industrial Dominicana ( UPID ) Transportation Roads and highways Santo Domingo is the terminus for four of the five national highways. The city is connected to the southwest of the country by the national highway DR - 2 ( Avenida George Washington and Autopista 30 de Mayo ), and with the cities of the country 's northwest by DR - 1 ( Expreso Kennedy, Corredor Duarte ), which serves as a direct link to the city of Santiago de los Caballeros. DR - 3 ( Expreso 27 de Febrero / Autopista de Las Américas ) connects Santo Domingo directly to the east of the country, including the cities of San Pedro de Macorís, La Romana, and major tourist sites such as Punta Cana and Bávaro, and to the Samaná Province ( in the northeast ) via the Samana Highway. In the city, motoconchos ( motorcycle taxis ), guaguas / voladoras ( low quality public buses ), and carros públicos / conchos ( shared taxis ) are common modes of transport. Main avenues Expreso John F. Kennedy : This expressway crosses the National District from east to west in the north - central part. The Avenue consists of a total of ten lanes, five on each side. The two center lanes of the road are express lanes to facilitate transit. It also has several bypasses and elevated crossings. Avenida 27 de Febrero : It is the main avenue to cross the National District from east to west in the central part of Santo Domingo. It starts at the Juan Bosch bridge and crosses the entire city until the roundabout at the Plaza de la Bandera, which extends into the town of Santo Domingo West and ends on the Duarte Highway. The thoroughfare is composed of a total of ten lanes. Five on each side. The four lanes in the center of the avenue are express that facilitate transit in the city from east to west, with several elevated cross streets, overpasses and tunnels. It also has exclusive bus lanes. Avenida Simón Bolívar : It extends from Independence Park to the junction with the Avenue Winston Churchill. In its entirety, this avenue is composed of two local lanes one - way east - west. Avenida Independencia : It extends from the intersection with Avenida Gregorio Luperón to Independence Park. The avenue consists of a total of four lanes ( two eastbound and two westbound ) from crossing with Av G. Luperon to the intersection of Avenida Italia. From the junction with Av Italy until Independence Park Avenue becomes one - way eastbound and contains only two lanes. George Washington av. Avenida George Washington : It is colloquially referred as `` El Malecón '' This is Santo Domingo 's Maritime Boulevard, running alongside the Caribbean sea 's waterfront. It extends from Palo Hincado Street to the intersection with Abraham Lincoln Avenue ; from that point to the Haina River Highway 30 May extends also includes President Billini Walk, which starts in Palo Hincado street and joins the Avenida del Puerto along the western bank of the Ozama River. Throughout its entire length it is composed of four lanes ( two on each side ). On this Boulevard you will find the most exclusive hotels in the city, several casinos, the mixed business and residential high rise complex Malecón Center, the Obelisk and Eugenio María de Hostos ' Park. This is also the Boulevard where the Santo Domingo Carnival parade takes place. Avenida Winston Churchill : It extends from Kennedy Avenue to Avenida 27 de Febrero, from there on, it continues as Avenida Jimenez Moya to reach the Centro de los Heroes and finally the boardwalk. This thoroughfare is distinguished by its date palms that are planted on the sidewalks. Throughout its length the road is composed of six lanes ( three on each side ) and a large wooded median popularly known as Boulevard de la Churchill ( `` Churchill 's Boulevard '' ) and within this lies the Boulevard of the Stars. Avenida Abraham Lincoln : extends from Avenida Kennedy to the seawall. The route consists of six lanes ( three on each side ) and a median suitable for jogging laid with palm trees. It traverses the city 's commercial and leisure city centre. Avenida José Ortega y Gasset : It extends from the Paseo de los Reyes Católicos Avenue until 27 de Febrero. The avenue consists of four lanes, two on each side. Along this avenue lies the Centro Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte athletic complex and the Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud medical complex. Avenida Tiradentes : It extends from the jetty in the south, through the state 's university Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo. It extends to the north along Avenida 27 de Febrero, John F. Kennedy, and continuing north past the city 's baseball stadium Estadio Quisqueya until it reaches the Parque Zoológico Nacional National Zoo. Avenida Gregorio Luperón : It extends from Kennedy Avenue to Highway 30 May on the western edge of Santo Domingo. The thoroughfare consists of eight lanes, four on each side and a landscaped median. Local attractions located on this strip includes Gallístico Center Herrera Industrial Zone, and the Plaza de la Bandera. Avenida Máximo Gómez y Báez : The city 's main south - north avenue, it extends from the Malecón to the Presidente Peynado bridge. The boulevard consists of four lanes, two on each side. Major buildings and points of interest along this boulevard are : the National Cemetery, Plaza de la Cultura which houses the National Theatre and the Palace of Fine Arts. There are also two universities ( UNAPEC and UTESA ), as well as the headquarters of the People 's Bank and five star hotel `` Hotel Barceló Santo Domingo ''. Avenida Juan Pablo Duarte : It extends from the intersection of Avenida Paseo and Martyrs of the Catholic Monarchs to Calle Padre Billini in the Colonial Zone. The avenue consists of three lanes on a road north - south direction becomes one lane to enter the Colonial Zone. This avenue is the main commerce route for low - income people throughout the metropolitan area with department stores, restaurants, and shops that offer goods and services at modest prices. In `` Duarte '' ( as popularly known ) you can find the New Market, the Enriquillo Park, Duarte Commercial Square and Santo Domingo 's Chinatown. Avenida Nicolás de Ovando y Cáceres : Is located on the northern part of Santo Domingo starting at the roundabout Cristo Rey sector and corner with Ortega y Gasset, Máximo Gómez, Arbert Duarte and Thomas avenues, among others ; culminating in the sector of Simón Bolívar. This avenue is characterized by many businesses that sell auto parts. Public transportation Santo Domingo Metro. Metro Station. Santo Domingo has an underground and elevated rapid transit metro system. It is the most extensive metro in the Caribbean and Central American region by total length and number of stations. The Santo Domingo Metro is part of a major `` National Master Plan '' to improve transportation in the city as well as the rest of the nation. The first line was planned to relieve traffic congestion in the Máximo Gómez and Hermanas Mirabal Avenue. The second line, which opened in April 2013, is meant to relieve the congestion along the Duarte - Kennedy - Centenario Corridor in the city from west to east. As of August 2013, the metro consists of these two lines. Four more lines are planned to be constructed in the near future, for a total of six. Before the opening of the second line, 30,856,515 passengers rode the Santo Domingo Metro in 2012. According to government figures more than 250,000 people ride the 28 kilometer system on a daily basis. Airports Santo Domingo is served by two airports. Aeropuerto Internacional La Isabela a newly constructed airport located in the northern section of the city, within kilometres of the city center. It serves mostly domestic and charter flights. The major international airport that serves the city is Santo Domingo Las Americas, which serves North and South America and also Europe. Seaport Don Diego terminal. The Port of Santo Domingo is located on the Ozama River. Its location at the center of the Caribbean is well suited for flexible itinerary planning and has excellent support, road and airport infrastructure within the Santo Domingo region, which facilitate access and transfers. The port is suitable for both turnaround and transit calls. The port 's renovation is part of a major redevelopment project, aimed at integrating the port area and the Zona Colonial and foster a cruise, yacht, and high - end tourism destination. Supported by legislation approved in 2005, the project, developed by the Sans Souci Group, also includes the development of a new sports marina and a 122 - acre ( 0.49 km ) mixed - leisure real estate development adjacent to the port. Sports Logo of Tigres del Licey Baseball Baseball is the most popular sport in the country. Santo Domingo is home to two of the six teams in the Dominican Professional Baseball League. Tigres del Licey, founded in 1907, have won 22 national championships since 1951. It is the most senior national team, winning 10 Caribbean Series titles as well. Leones del Escogido, founded in 1921, are winners of 15 national championships since 1951. It is the third team with the most championships won. The team has 4 titles won in the Caribbean Series. These two teams are based in the Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal located in Ensanche La Fe. Basketball Santo Domingo 's Basketball Tournament Superior is held in the National District each year, with several teams participating and representing several sectors and social clubs of the city. Some of the teams participating in the tournament include : El Millón Rafael Barias Los Prados Mauricio Báez Mejoramiento social ( BAMESO ) Huellas del Siglo San Carlos San Lázaro Sports clubs Club Arroyo Hondo Club Casa de España Club de Villa Francisca Club Los Prados Club Mauricio Báez Club Naco Club Paraíso Club San Carlos Club San Lázaro Club Santo Domingo Club Libanés Sirio Palestino Media There are 15 television stations ( both UHF and VHF ) in Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo has the greatest number of television signals in the country, followed by Santiago. Additional cable television channels are provided by companies like Aster, Cable TV Dominicana, SKY Dominicana, and Telecable. In Santo Domingo there are 100 different stations in AM frequency and 44 in FM frequency. Television Tele Antillas ( canal 2 ) CERTV ( canal 4 ) Telemicro ( canal 5 ) Canal del Sol ( canal 6 ) Antena Latina ( canal 7 ) Color Visión ( canal 9 ) Telesistema ( canal 11 ) Telecentro ( canal 13 ) Digital 15 ( canal 15 ) Quisqueya TV ( canal 17 ) Teleglobo ( canal 19 ) Antena 21 ( canal 21 ) Telefuturo canal 23 ( canal 23 ) Telemedios dominicanos, S.A. ( canal 25 ) RNN ( canal 27 ) Teleuniverso ( canal 29 ) Supercanal ( canal 33 ) NCDN ( canal 37 ) Coral 39 ( canal 39 ) Televida canal 41 ( canal 41 ) Teleradio América ( canal 45 ) Amé47 ( canal 47 ) Isla Visión ( canal 53 ) Mango TV ( canal 59 ) Santo Domingo TV ( canal 69 ) Radio FM Primera ( 88.1 ) Studio88 ( 88.5 ) Escape ( 88.9 ) Neon ( 89.3 ) Renuevo ( 89.7 ) Fuego 90 ( 90.1 ) Estrella 90 ( 90.5 ) La91 ( 91.3 ) La Rocka ( 91.7 ) Hits92 ( 92.1 ) CDN La radio ( 92.5 ) Pura Vida ( 92.9 ) Independencia ( 93.3 ) Radio Enriquillo ( 93.7 ) Fidelity ( 94.1 ) KQ94 ( 94.5 ) Kiss ( 94.9 ) Radio educativa dominicana ( 95.3 ) La nota diferente ( 95.7 ) RTVD ( 96.1 ) Ritmo 96 ( 96.5 ) Espacio fm ( 96.9 ) Radio Disney ( 97.3 ) Estación ( 97.7 ) Universal ( 98.1 ) Rumba ( 98.5 ) Dominicana FM ( 98.9 ) Sonido suave ( 99.3 ) Radio listín ( 99.7 ) La 100.1 FM ( 100.1 ) Cima 100 ( 100.5 ) SuperQ ( 100.9 ) Z101 ( 101.3 ) Supra ( 101.7 ) La X 102 ( 102.1 ) La dura ( 102.5 ) Raíces ( 102.9 ) Milenium ( 103.3 ) Power 103 ( 103.7 ) Caliente ( 104.1 ) ESPN Deportes Radio ( 104.5 ) Mortal ( 104.9 ) Vida ( 105.3 ) Fiesta FM ( 105.7 ) Disco 106 ( 106.1 ) Zol ( 106.5 ) La voz de las Fuerzas Armadas ( 106.9 ) Escándalo ( 107.3 ) Romántica ( 107.7 ) AM Radio abc ( 540 ) Radio cristal ( 570 ) Radio televisión dominicana ( 620 ) Radio universal ( 650 ) Radio guarachita ( 690 ) HIZ ( 730 ) Radio cordillera ( 760 ) La voz del trópico ( 790 ) HIJB AM ( 830 ) Radio clarín ( 860 ) Radio continental ( 890 ) Radio 920 AM ( 920 ) Radio popular ( Circuito Corporán ) ( 950 ) Radioemisora La Voz Cultural de las Fuerzas Armadas ( 980 ) Radio comercial ( 1010 ) Radio central ( 1040 ) Radio Ambar ( Cadena Sur, Radio R.P.Q. ) ( 1080 ) Radio Metro ( Politiro ) ( 1120 ) Onda Musical HIAS AM ( 1150 ) Radio mil ( 1180 ) Radio Ven Voz Evangelizadora ( 1210 ) Radio Bemba ( 1220 ) Radio Visión ( 1260 ) Cadena Espacial ( 1280 ) Radio Radio ( 1300 ) Radio Visión Cristiana Internacional ( 1330 ) Radio Listín ( 1360 ) Radio Renuevo ( 1440 ) Radio villa ( 1480 ) Radio pueblo ( 1510 ) Radio recuerdo ( 1540 ) Radio amanecer ( 1570 ) Radio Revelación en América ( 1600 ) International Relations This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( February 2015 ) See also : List of twin towns and sister cities in the Dominican Republic Twin towns -- Sister cities Santo Domingo is twinned with : Bogotá, Colombia Buenos Aires, Argentina Caracas, Venezuela Catbalogan, Philippines Curitiba, Brazil Guadalajara, Mexico Haifa, Israel Havana, Cuba La Muela, Spain Madrid, Spain Manaus, Brazil ( 2009 ) Paris, France Pontevedra, Spain Providence, Rhode Island, United States Rosario, Argentina Quito, Ecuador Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain Santiago, Philippines Taipei, Taiwan Santo Domingo has four sister cities designated by Sister Cities International : St. Augustine, Florida, United States Miami - Dade County, Florida, United States Miami, United States New York City, United States Gallery Santo Domingo 's modern architecture Statue of Antonio de Montesino John F. Kennedy Avenue, Santo Domingo Santo Domingo at night Anacaona Avenue in Santo Domingo. Mirador del Sur park Alcázar de Colón People from Santo Domingo See also : Category : People from Santo Domingo See also Dominican Republic portal New Spain portal Captaincy General of Santo Domingo Ciudad Colonial ( Santo Domingo ) Culture of the Dominican Republic History of the Dominican Republic Index of Dominican Republic - related articles List of cities in the Caribbean List of cities in the Dominican Republic List of colonial governors of Santo Domingo Spanish colonization of the Americas References ^ Jump up to : IX Census Jump up ^ ( in Spanish ) Superficies a nivel de municipios, Oficina Nacional de Estadística Archived 17 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ De la Fuente, Santiago ( 1976 ). Geografía Dominicana ( in Spanish ). Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic : Editora Colegial Quisqueyana. ^ Jump up to : `` Expansión Urbana de las ciudades capitales de RD : 1988 - 2010 '' ( in Spanish ). Santo Domingo : Oficina Nacional de Estadística. 1 May 2015. ISBN 978 - 9945 - 8984 - 3 - 9. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016. Jump up ^ City Mayors : Local government in the Caribbean Jump up ^ Colonial City of Santo Domingo -- UNESCO World Heritage Centre Jump up ^ Comisiones Nacionales : UNESCO Jump up ^ Perez, Cosme E. ( 20 December 2011 ). Quisqueya : un pas̕ en el mundo : La Revelacin̤ Maya Del 2012. Palibrio. p. 27. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4633 - 1368 - 5. Retrieved 4 June 2012. Jump up ^ Greenberger, Robert ( 1 January 2003 ). Juan Ponce de León : The Exploration of Florida and the Search for the Fountain of Youth. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 35. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8239 - 3627 - 4. Retrieved 4 June 2012. Jump up ^ Bolton, Herbert E. ; Marshall, Thomas Maitland ( 30 April 2005 ). The Colonization of North America 1492 to 1783. Kessinger Publishing. p. 17. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7661 - 9438 - 0. Retrieved 4 June 2012. Jump up ^ Clayton, Lawrence A. ( 25 January 2011 ). Bartolom de Las Casas and the Conquest of the Americas. John Wiley & Sons. p. 19. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4051 - 9427 - 3. Retrieved 4 June 2012. Jump up ^ Meining 1986 : 9 ^ Jump up to : Floyd, Troy ( 1973 ). The Columbus Dynasty in the Caribbean, 1492 - 1526. Albuquerque : University of New Mexico Press. pp. 55, 73. ^ Jump up to : `` Dominican Republic -- THE FIRST COLONY ''. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 18. Jump up ^ Marley, David ( 1998 ). Wars of the Americas. ABC - CLIO. pp. 148 -- 149. ISBN 9780874368376. Jump up ^ `` Elections and Events 1791 -- 1849 ''. University of California - San Diego. Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 18. Jump up ^ Mary Louise Pratt, Imperial Eyes, 2007, p. 70 Jump up ^ `` City street map of Santo Domingo at www.colonialzone-dr.com '' ( PDF ). Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 20. Jump up ^ Derby, Lauren ( 26 June 2009 ). The Dictator 's Seduction : Politics and the Popular Imagination in the Era of Trujillo. Duke University Press. p. 66. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8223 - 4482 - 7. Retrieved 4 June 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` Secretaría de Estado de Cultura ''. Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 18. ^ Jump up to : Mejía, Mariela ( 7 January 2011 ). `` Frío extremo, calor agobiante '' ( in Spanish ). Diario Libre. Retrieved 2 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` Santo Domingo Climate Normals 1961 -- 1990 ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` Station Santo Domingo '' ( in French ). Meteo Climat. Retrieved 2 May 2017. Jump up ^ Moré, Gustavo Luis ; Bergdoll, Barry ( 30 June 2010 ). Caribbean Modernist Architecture. The Museum of Modern Art. p. 8. ISBN 978 - 0 - 87070 - 775 - 9. Retrieved 4 June 2012. Jump up ^ Clammer, Paul ; Grosberg, Michael ; Porup, Jens ( 1 October 2008 ). Dominican Republic and Haiti. Lonely Planet. p. 79. ISBN 978 - 1 - 74104 - 292 - 4. Retrieved 4 June 2012. Jump up ^ DK TRAVEL GUIDES ( 1 September 2011 ). DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide : Dominican Republic. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 77. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4053 - 6102 - 6. Retrieved 4 June 2012. Jump up ^ Harvey, Sean ; Fullman, Joe ( 1 January 2009 ). The Rough Guide to the Dominican Republic. Rough Guides. p. 90. ISBN 978 - 1 - 85828 - 811 - 6. Retrieved 4 June 2012. Jump up ^ Otfinoski, Steven ( 30 January 2005 ). Juan Ponce de León : Discoverer of Florida. Marshall Cavendish. p. 19. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7614 - 1610 - 4. Retrieved 4 June 2012. Jump up ^ Gray, Dulce María ( 2001 ). High Literacy and Ethnic Identity : Dominican American Schooling in Transition. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 38. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7425 - 0005 - 1. Retrieved 4 June 2012. Jump up ^ See List of metro systems Jump up ^ `` Estadísticas de peaje y tiempo de recorrido al 2013 '' ( Statistics of tolls and times of route 2013 ) ( PDF ). opret.gob.do ( via : http://opret.gob.do/Estadisticas.aspx ) ( in Spanish ). Oficina para el Reordenamiento de Transporte ( OPRET ). p. 2. Retrieved 2013 - 09 - 17. External link in website = ( help ) ^ Jump up to : `` Memoria Anual, Agosto 2002 - Agosto 2003 '' ( PDF ). Ayuntamiento del Distrito Nacional. pp. 66 -- 67. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 19 August 2008. Retrieved 2008 - 07 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Sister Cities, Public Relations ''. Guadalajara municipal government. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2013. Jump up ^ `` Mapa Mundi de las ciudades hermanadas ''. Ayuntamiento de Madrid. Retrieved 2008 - 07 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Universidade norte - americana fará parceria com a Câmara Municipal de Manaus ''. Jusbrasil.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2012. Jump up ^ La Guardia y Santo Domingo, dos ciudades hermanas ( Spanish ) Archived 20 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` Town Twinning Agreements ''. Municipalidad de Rosario -- Buenos Aires 711. Retrieved 2014 - 10 - 14. ^ Jump up to : Online Directory : Dominican Republic, Caribbean Sister Cities International, Inc. ( SCI ) Archived 17 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` NYC 's Partner Cities ''. The City of New York. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 2012 - 12 - 16. Meinig, D.W. ( 1986 ). The Shaping of America : a Geographic Perspective on 500 Years of History. Volume I -- Atlantic America, 1492 -- 1800. New Haven : Yale University Press. ISBN 0 - 300 - 03882 - 8 Santo Domingo ; Fragmentos De Patria by Banreservas ISBN 99934 - 898 - 1 - 6 https://www.one.gob.do/demograficas/proyecciones-de-poblacion https://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/metro-recauda-rd-5-mm-y-monta-250-mil-pasajeros-todos-los-dias-FX7132430 Bibliography See also : Bibliography of the history of Santo Domingo External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Santo Domingo. Wikisource has the text of a 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article about Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo travel guide from Wikivoyage La Capital : Ciudad Trujillo in the 1940s Distrito Nacional - Santo Domingo 24 de Abril 30 de Mayo Altos de Arroyo Hondo Arroyo Manzano Atala Bella Vista Buenos Aires ( Independencia ) Cacique Centro de Los Heroes Centro Olímpico Duarte Cerros de Arroyo Hondo Ciudad Colonial Ciudad Nueva Ciudad Universitaria Cristo Rey Domingo Sabio El Millón Ensanche Capotillo Ensanche Espaillat Ensanche La Fé Ensanche Luperón Ensanche Naco Ensanche Simón Bolívar Gazcue General Antonio Duvergé Gualey Honduras del Norte Honduras del Oeste Jardín Botanico Jardín Zoologico Jardínes del Sur Julieta Morales La Agustina La Esperilla La Hondonada La Isabela La Julia La Zurza Los Cacicazgos Los Jardínes Los Peralejos Los Prados Los Restauradores Los Ríos María Auxiliadora Mejoramiento Social Mirador Norte Mirador Sur Miraflores Miramar Nuestra Señora de la Paz Nuevo Arroyo Hondo Palma Real Paraíso Paseo de los Indíos Piantini Puerto Isabela Punta Caucedo Quisqueya Renacimiento San Carlos San Diego San Gerónimo San Juan Bosco Tropical Metaldom Viejo Arroyo Hondo Villa Consuelo Villa Francisca Villa Juana See also Dominican Republic Provinces Municipalities Provincial capitals of the Dominican Republic Azua Baní Barahona Bonao Comendador Cotuí Dajabón El Seibo Hato Mayor Higüey Jimaní La Romana La Vega Mao Moca Monte Cristi Monte Plata Nagua Neiba Pedernales Puerto Plata Sabaneta Salcedo Samaná San Cristóbal San Francisco de Macorís San José de Ocoa San Juan de la Maguana San Pedro de Macorís Santiago de los Caballeros Santo Domingo Santo Domingo Este Capitals of North America Dependent territories are in italics Basse - Terre, Guadeloupe ( France ) Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis Belmopan, Belize Bridgetown, Barbados Castries, St. Lucia Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands ( US ) Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos ( UK ) Fort - de-France, Martinique ( France ) George Town, Cayman Islands ( UK ) Guatemala City, Guatemala Gustavia, St. Barthélemy ( France ) Hamilton, Bermuda ( UK ) Havana, Cuba Kingston, Jamaica Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Kralendijk, Bonaire ( Netherlands ) Managua, Nicaragua Marigot, St. Martin ( France ) Mexico City, Mexico Nassau, The Bahamas Nuuk, Greenland ( Denmark ) Oranjestad, Aruba ( Netherlands ) Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius ( Netherlands ) Ottawa, Canada Panama City, Panama Philipsburg, Sint Maarten ( Netherlands ) Plymouth ( de jure ) Brades ( de facto ), Montserrat ( UK ) Port - au - Prince, Haiti Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Road Town, British Virgin Islands ( UK ) Roseau, Dominica Saint - Pierre, St. Pierre and Miquelon ( France ) San José, Costa Rica San Juan, Puerto Rico ( US ) San Salvador, El Salvador Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic St. George 's, Grenada St. John 's, Antigua and Barbuda Tegucigalpa, Honduras The Bottom, Saba ( Netherlands ) The Valley, Anguilla ( UK ) Washington, D.C., United States Willemstad, Curaçao ( Netherlands ) Pan American Games host cities Summer 1951 : Buenos Aires 1955 : Mexico City 1959 : Chicago 1963 : São Paulo 1967 : Winnipeg 1971 : Santiago de Cali 1975 : Mexico City 1979 : San Juan 1983 : Caracas 1987 : Indianapolis 1991 : Havana 1995 : Mar del Plata 1999 : Winnipeg 2003 : Santo Domingo 2007 : Rio de Janeiro 2011 : Guadalajara 2015 : Toronto 2019 : Lima 2023 : Santiago Winter 1990 : Las Leñas American Capitals of Culture 2000 Mérida Iquique 2002 Maceió 2003 Panama City Curitiba Santiago 2005 Guadalajara 2006 Córdoba 2007 Cusco 2008 Brasília 2009 Asunción Santo Domingo 2011 Quito 2012 São Luís 2013 Barranquilla 2014 Colima 2015 Mayagüez 2016 Valdivia 2017 Mérida BNF : cb119735608 ( data ) GND : 4118416 - 6 NARA : 10044722 VIAF : 135983186 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Santo_Domingo&oldid=844744513 '' Categories : Santo Domingo Capitals in the Caribbean History of Hispaniola Populated places in the Dominican Republic Populated places established in the 1490s Port cities in the Caribbean Spanish West Indies 1496 establishments in North America Hidden categories : Articles with Spanish - language external links Webarchive template wayback links CS1 Spanish - language sources ( es ) CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) CS1 errors : external links Use dmy dates from February 2016 Articles with short description Coordinates on Wikidata Articles containing Spanish - language text Articles needing additional references from May 2017 All articles needing additional references All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February 2007 Articles needing additional references from February 2015 Commons category with local link different than on Wikidata All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from December 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with NARA identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikivoyage Afrikaans አማርኛ Asturianu Aymar aru Azərbaycanca Bân - 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Question: where does the name santo domingo come from
Answer: in honor of Saint Dominic