Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is located on the south coast of the country on the Caribbean Sea. With a population of more than 2.5 million inhabitants it is a vibrant and lively metropo-lis where are many things to be seen and to be discovered.

One encounters the historical face of the city in its colonial district, the Zona Colonial, which has been carefully restored to retain its original charm. In 1990, UNESCO declared it World Heritage Site. Many early 16th-century buildings bear witness that Santo Domingo is the oldest city in the New World, where the settlement of all the Americas began. In recent years many young gallery owners, fashion designers, restaurants, and clubs have discovered the Zona Colonial and set up business there.

Santo Domingo is also a modern, driven city. Colorful, lively markets invite you to discover the treasures of the country: hand-wrapped cigars, jewelry made out of Larimar or Amber and other local handcrafts on sale virtually everywhere. Or you could shop in the cool elegance of a modern shopping center.

At night the city trembles to the rhythm of Merengue and Bachata, the musical soul of the Dominicans, sounding out of numerous bars, cafes, and restau-rants. Here, in the multicultural mix of Spanish-American, African, and European influences, the modern and the historical Santo Domingo unite again.