Alcázar de Colón (Columbus Alcazar), Santo Domingo (must see)

The Columbus Alcazar is a historically significant and awe-inspiring edifice located in Santo Domingo. As the oldest Viceregal residence in the Americas, it holds a prestigious place within the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Columbus Alcazar houses the Alcazar Museum of Diego Colón, which boasts an exceptional collection of European late medieval and Renaissance works of art. Acquired in the 1950s, these art pieces represent the most important ensemble of their kind in the Caribbean region. Among the notable exhibits is a Tapestry collection that spans the 15th to 17th centuries, making it particularly unique and significant in the Caribbean. This collection includes remarkable pieces produced by the renowned Flemish Van Den Hecke family, using cartouches created by Charles Le Brun. As a result, the museum attracts a considerable number of visitors and stands as the most visited museum in Santo Domingo.

The palace itself is a stunning architectural marvel, constructed with coralline blocks. In its heyday, it boasted around fifty rooms, gardens, and courtyards, creating a grand and opulent atmosphere befitting a Viceregal residence. However, today, only about half of its original size remains due to the passage of time and historical events. The Alcázar de Colón was built during the early 16th century, between 1510 and 1512, under the orders of Diego Colón, the son of Christopher Columbus. At the time, Diego Colón served as the Viceroy of La Española and the Indies, and he envisioned the mansion as both a family home and a governor's mansion.

Throughout the Spanish colonial period, the Columbus Alcazar held immense importance in history. It served as a crucial center for planning expeditions of conquest and exploration, shaping the course of early exploration and colonization in the region.

Editor's note: The Alcazar Museum is temporarily closed.