Gazcue is a busy district located adjacent to Santo Domingo’s historical Colonial Zone. Delve into the enthralling history and art movements of the Dominican Republic when visiting Gazcue’s museums. Catch a show at magnificent theaters and sample the city’s food and nightlife scene.
Plaza de la Cultura is the hub of the area’s cultural activities. This tree-lined square stands on land once owned by the nation’s dictator Rafael Trujillo. Today it is home to fascinating museum exhibitions and is the location for the annual International Book Fair Santo Domingo. Book tickets for a ballet, classical music, drama and opera performance at the National Theater.
Among the square’s four museums, the Museum of Modern Art showcases homegrown talents such as Adriana Billini and Luis Desangles. Ancient Taino objects and an exhibition about the history of carnival are highlights of the Museum of the Dominican Man. See whale skeletons, millennia-old rocks and a taxidermy display at the National Museum of Natural History. The tumultuous reign of Trujillo comes to life at the Museum of History and Geography.
Watch government employees come and go from the grandiose National Palace. The halls of this neoclassical masterpiece were used as filming locations for The Godfather Part II. Another beautiful neoclassical landmark is the Palace of Fine Arts. Check the venue’s schedule for fine art exhibitions, dance performances and plays.
Partake in a favorite city pastime by walking along the Malecon seafront boulevard. By day it’s a place to enjoy sea views, spot monuments and hang out in waterfront parks. Look for El Obelisco, a pillar decorated with a mural that honors the Mirabal sisters that opposed the Trujillo dictatorship. At night on the Malecon there’s a buzzing atmosphere created by a range of bars, casinos, cigar lounges and nightclubs.
Located in the Distrito Nacional region, Gazcue is a 30-minute drive from the Las Americas International Airport. If your legs get tired from walking between sights then make use of low-cost guagua buses and taxis.
