Ciudad Colonial (Santo Domingo)
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. It is also known as Zona Colonial (Colonial Zone) or more colloquially as "La Zona" (The Zone).
Ciudad Colonial | |
|---|---|
Historic district | |
Aerial view of Columbus Park in colonial district of Santo Domingo | |
Map of Santo Domingo, 1873 | |
Ciudad Colonial | |
| Coordinates: 18°29′N 69°55′W | |
| Country | Dominican Republic |
| Province | Distrito Nacional |
| City | Santo Domingo |
| Time zone | UTC-4 |
| Official name | Colonial City of Santo Domingo |
| Location | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
| Includes | |
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii), (iv), (vi) |
| Reference | 526 |
| Inscription | 1990 (14th Session) |
| Area | 106 ha (0.41 sq mi) |
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.