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Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo's Zona Colonial is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a walking museum of firsts — it contains the first cathedral, first monastery, first hospital, and first university established in the Americas. The Alcazar de Colon, built in 1510 by the son of Christopher Columbus, overlooks the Ozama River from a commanding plaza. Calle Las Damas, the oldest paved street in the Americas, is lined with elegant colonial buildings and leads to the Fortaleza Ozama. Beyond the historic core, the Malecon seaside promenade stretches for miles along the Caribbean coastline, coming alive at night with music, dancing, and food vendors. The Mercado Modelo offers an immersion in Dominican daily life with stalls selling everything from mamajuana liquor to amber jewelry. The neighborhoods of Gazcue and Piantini provide a more modern Dominican experience with restaurants, parks, and galleries.
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The Zona Colonial is compact and easily walkable, but watch for uneven sidewalks and cobblestones. The heat can be intense — carry water and plan walks for morning or late afternoon.
December through April is the dry season with the most comfortable temperatures for walking, though the city is warm year-round with temperatures averaging around 27 degrees Celsius.