CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA LA MENOR

The oldest existing settlement founded by Europeans in the western hemisphere, Santo Domingo, the capital and largest city of the Dominican Republic, boasts many historical attractions. The Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor, constructed during the early 1500s, is the oldest church in the West Indies. Some historians believe that the remains of famed navigator Christopher Columbus rest in the cathedral.

A remarkable blend of Spanish Renaissance and Gothic architecture creates an overwhelmingly surreal experience at the Cathedral of Santa Maria. Construction of the cathedral began in 1514, and was completed around 1540. The first Catholic cathedral in the New World, this structure stands as a reminder of the city's history and culture and is still in use today. The limestone and coral facade highlights the Gothic and Baroque architecture, and the structures and refinery that adorn this cathedral are tangible reminders of The Age of Exploration, and of course, of the city's rich history. Visit this cathedral to stand in the very same location that Sir Francis Drake, who captured Santo Domingo in 1586, created his headquarters.

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