Ciudad Colonial (Santo Domingo)

Ciudad Colonial
Historic district
Aerial view of Columbus Park in colonial district of Santo Domingo
Aerial view of Columbus Park in colonial district of Santo Domingo
Map of Santo Domingo, 1873
Map of Santo Domingo, 1873
Ciudad Colonial is located in the Dominican Republic
Ciudad Colonial
Ciudad Colonial
Coordinates: 18°29′N 69°55′W / 18.483°N 69.917°W / 18.483; -69.917
CountryDominican Republic
ProvinceDistrito Nacional
CitySanto Domingo
Time zoneUTC-4
Official nameColonial City of Santo Domingo
LocationSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic
Includes
CriteriaCultural: (ii), (iv), (vi)
Reference526
Inscription1990 (14th Session)
Area106 ha (0.41 sq mi)

Ciudad Colonial (Spanish for "Colonial City") is the historic central neighborhood of the Dominican Republic's capital Santo Domingo. It is the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the Americas. The area has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.[1] It is also known as Zona Colonial (Colonial Zone) or more colloquially as "La Zona" (The Zone).

The Ciudad Colonial is located on the west bank of the Ozama River, which bisects the city. It covers 1.06 km2 (0.41 sq mi) bounded by a walled perimeter. It is an important section of the city due to the high number of landmarks, including Alcázar de Colón, Fortaleza Ozama, Catedral de Santa María la Menor, and others. The area is the main tourist attraction of Santo Domingo, even though the main sites of governmental and commercial activity are now in the more modern parts of the city.

  1. ^ "Colonial City of Santo Domingo - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2007-05-07.