In the heart of the Colonial Zone you will find the most famous and more historical street of Santo Domingo, this street is called El Conde Peatonal, such street is only for pedestrian walk, cars are not allowed to transit here.

El Conde Pedestrian Street had its beginning in the 1st part of XVI Century.  As years passed the street was expanding to the west and ended in the old city gate, which has the same name of this street (Puerta del Conde).

According to the books of Dominican history the street was named after Conde de Peñalba who faced the English invasion in 1655.

Nowadays, El Conde Street has wide range of stores.  It has apartments with stores on the 1st floor and the rest of the floors are houses.  It is one of the few zones in the world in which you can “rent clothes” in order to have access to some historical monuments; this is a requirement to get in.

Stores offer a great variety of items but since it is mainly visited by tourists from other countries, most of the items represent Dominican culture and custom. To get to El Conde Street you have Parque Independencia in Km. 0 of Independencia Avenue as a reference, right in front of Puerta Del Conde at Colonial Zone.

The waiters and waitresses of Paté Palo European Brassiere restaurant are dressed like pirates which gives an adventure and happy environment; the restaurant is decorated with antiques, pictures and maps of the colonial times.

• Open air Terrace
• Bar (specialized in wines)
• Brassiere Center (music alive every week)
• Patio ( semi-private space, lodging 50 people)
• Balcony (limited to 12 people)
• Captain’s Lounge (for especial activities such as weddings, birthdays and other, etc.)

Paté Palo European Brassiere Restaurant menu is one of the most exquisite in the colonial zone.  It is recommended by professionals of the culinary art in Dominican Reepublic like the Chef Daisy Martinez who recommends this place as one of her favorite in Santo Domingo.

Paté Palo European Brassiere Restaurant has more than 30 dishes; some the specialties include meats and seafood at European style; for those who prefer healthy and low calories food Paté Palo also offers a great variety of salads and pastas.

The main Chef of Paté Palo European Brassiere is from a European family with old traditions and excellent taste of gastronomy.  He has more than 18 years of experience cooking taste worthy dishes.

For reservations and information, please call: 809-687-8089.
Its website is http://www.patepalo.com/

Columbus’ Palace Museum was constructed between 1510 and 1510. It was constructed on a place next to Ozama River shore; this place was a given to Diego Colon by the King Fernando the Catholic. At the beginning it had 22 rooms from which only 15 are preserved due to the years of the construction and that it was totally abandoned and in ruins.  In 1957 it was officially declared as a museum by the Dominican Government.

This residence is a lively representation of colonial times of Dominican Republic. Once inside the museum we can appreciate the works of art which let us see the past in a future time; it is like if XVI century had stopped and let us value its charms.

The museum was the first house of this type constructed in Dominican Republic. It has a visitor’s monthly average of 18,500.  We can count more than 800 pieces from the XIII to the XX Century, decorating the place for the pleasure of all the people who visit this beautiful place.  The chambers are furnished with beds from that century as well as some paints and musical instruments. The Columbus’ Palace Museum was remodeled in this century to stop being Columbus’ Palace and then becoming the museum.

Columbus’ Palace Museum is located in Plaza España, Colonial Zone
Schedule 9:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M. Tuesday to Sundays.
Telephone: (809) 682-4750

The Colonial Area is located in Santo Domingo, Capital of Dominican Republic, it’s one of the most touristic parts of the country, only a few meters away from Ozama River, its name dates back to 1498, when the Spanish Crown granted the royal letter and recognized it as the first colonial city receiving such an honor.

The Colonial Area is one of those places you cannot miss, its streets seem to be lost in oblivion, narrow and antique, but well preserved. Walking along anywhere in this area you will find buildings and houses from the colonial period, you can also find Dominican handcrafts shops, do any type of shopping, listen to outdoor music shows or just enjoy an unforgettable and romantic moment.

Having a guided tour around the Colonial Area may not be enough, I actually suggest you visit on your own or with a close friend the most beautiful places surrounding this area, take your time, get a guide and prepare your cameras to take some of the most astonishing pictures ever.

As a starting point the Colon Park is a good place, here you will find the statue of Christopher Columbus (sculpted by the French sculptor Gilbert in XIX century). The Columbus Park has several pleasant terraces, similar to the ones you can find in Spain in the summer time; these terraces offer many types of drinks, but I recommend you try Cerveza Presidente.

A few meters away from Columbus Park you can find Conde Street; this street is unique and is one of the most commercial ones, actually you can find any type of shops, products, restaurants, in short: anything you need to satisfy your taste. Southwards Columbus Park, you’ll find the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor (built between 1514 and 1544), to get inside you need to meet some clothing requirements: short pants are not allowed, therefore you can rent some long pants in any nearby stalls (about RD$50).

The Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor is considered the first Cathedral of America, built as a mixture of baroque and renaissance style that jointly give a gothic and cozy sensation. Its construction was possible thanks to the work of a team of well-known artists, Dominicans as well as foreigners, among them the Dominican Rincon Mora stands out.

In short, the Colonial Area is one of those exceptional places you cannot miss; remember to bring your camera to capture those moments that live eternally.

The Dominican Independence (February 27, 1844) was proclaimed in La Puerta del Conde, therefore this monument is a celebration of freedom. Dominicans are true lovers of their freedom, for that reason this monument is a Dominican symbol. It is located in Palo Hincado Street, on the corner of Conde Street in Santo Domingo (Colonial Area, Capital City).

In 1833 La Puerta del Conde changed its name again to what it’s called nowadays Puerta del 27 de Febrero; only a few Dominicans know that is not actually called La Puerta del Conde. In 1935 it was declared National Monument of the Dominican Republic, and eight years later it was acknowledged as the tomb of the Fathers of the Homeland (Juan Pablo Duarte, Francisco del Rosario Sanchez and Ramon Matias Mella rest in the Altar of the Homeland).

La Puerta del Conde is designed with the Spanish style of the 16th century, as well as other popular monuments of the Dominican Republic. It is centrally situated in Santo Domingo (Colonial Area), near Duarte Highway and easy to reach; furthermore it is an incredible place to spend a nice time and take some good pictures.