The oldest surviving European city in the Americas
Santo Domingo was founded in 1496, and its Zona Colonial, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains a remarkable list of firsts for the Americas: the first cathedral, the Catedral Primada, the first fortress, the Fortaleza Ozama, and the first paved street, the Calle de las Damas. The Alcázar de Colón was the palace of Christopher Columbus's son Diego. Around the Parque Colón, restored colonial houses now hold restaurants and bars, and the Malecón runs along the Caribbean. Merengue and bachata fill the weekend nights.