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Santo Domingo is used to being first: it was the first European settlement in the New World ; it boasts the western hemisphere's first cathedral, first monastery, first hospital, first university and first law court. This rich colonial heritage, sparked off in the 15th century by legendary Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus, has been turned into a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of the city. 
Known as the ' Colonial City ' it is now a delightful area of cobblestone streets and 16th-century buildings interspersed with cafes, bars, small hotels and restaurants. Visitors don't need to stray from the Colonial City to enjoy a great time in the city, but it is advisable not to ignore the modern part of Santo Domingo . The superb shopping, delicious dining, dazzling casinos, seductive parks and vibrant nightlife all beckon enticingly, from the monumental Columbus Lighthouse right down to the depths of the Guácara Taina nightclub with its multi-level dance floors inside a real cave. And an opportunity to visit to the Estadio Quisqueya to watch a game of the Dominican Republic 's adored national sport, baseball, shouldn't be passed up on by any visitor to the city between the months of October and February. 
Inside the Colonial City stands the oldest cathedral in the western hemisphere, built in 1523 and still in use. Its mix of late Gothic and Renaissance elements provide a beautiful example of Spanish Renaissance architecture, with its golden coral facade and Gothic interior. Its walls have seen a great deal of history, including the coming of Sir Francis Drake who captured Santo Domingo in 1586 and held the town for ransom. He made the cathedral his headquarters. 
The historic enclave of Santo Domingo, known as the Colonial City, covers only one square mile (3 sq km), but inside the walls are dozens of historical buildings and sites, including palaces, forts, museums, and churches; and parks, plazas, statues and monuments. A walking tour of these fascinating buildings takes at least three hours through cobbled streets where once walked Christopher Columbus, Fernando Cortez and Francis Drake. The main street, Calle Das Lamas, is the oldest street in the New World . Must-sees include the House of Cord, the oldest European building in the Americas , where Diego Columbus, son of Christopher, once lived; and the Alcazar Palace , now a museum, built in 1514. 
The most modern memento to Santo Domingo 's status as the oldest European city in the Americas is a mammoth structure built on the eastern shore of the Ozama River in the early 1990s to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus ' arrival in the New World . The building is 693ft (211m) long and built in the shape of a cross at a 45-degree angle. It houses what the Dominican Republic claims are the remains of Columbus himself and is fitted with intense lights which project the image of the cross into the sky at night. The monument was designed by English architect J.L. Gleave, who won an international competition for the design after 455 plans were submitted by architects from 48 different countries. The building is also the repository for numerous documents and artefacts associated with the early Spanish colonial times. 
About a mile east of the Columbus Lighthouse monument is sited what is claimed to be one of the better aquariums in the Caribbean . The aquarium contains a variety of marine life from angelfish to sharks, but its star resident is 'Tamaury', a manatee rescued as a baby off the coast of Barahona . The aquarium is equipped with a clear glass sea-tunnel that makes viewing the enclosed sea life an awesome experience. 
The vast green square in the heart of Santo Domingo serves as the city's cultural and artistic showcase, being fronted by a cluster of four museums, as well as the National Theatre. The museums are the Museum of Modern Art , the Museum of History and Geography, the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Dominican Man. The National Theatre runs a full programme of opera, ballet, music and drama productions. 
This unique park, on the east bank of the Ozama River , is a surreal experience for visitors. The park is actually a series of huge natural caves on different levels, containing fresh water lagoons. One is a sulphuric lake rumoured to be bottomless, which is contained in a volcanic crater. The caves are festooned with stalactites and stalagmites. The pre-Columbian Taino Indians used the site for religious ceremonies. 
A popular escape from city life is provided by the small seaside town of Boca Chica , a 25-minute drive east of Santo Domingo on the Avenida de las Americas . The resort was developed by a wealthy industrialist around one of the best swimming beaches on the coast, and boasts crystal-clear calm waters, a yacht club and marina, golf course and some excellent seafood restaurants. 
