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i Dominican Republic - travelfilm.de

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Salinas, Baní.<br />

the Rosa mango that when harvested in<br />

the Peravia Valley, acquires a peculiar,<br />

exquisite taste worth trying.<br />

Its patronal festivities are from June 15<br />

to 24, festivities in honor of San Juan,<br />

and November 21, the feast of Nuestra<br />

Señora <strong>de</strong> Regla.<br />

• Where to Stay<br />

Consult the Hotel Directory in page 70.<br />

• Info:<br />

Tourism Office � 809-380-2094<br />

Azua <strong>de</strong> Compostela<br />

Azua, a land burned by the strong<br />

rays of our blazing tropical sun but<br />

also washed by the outpouring of its<br />

melodious crystalline waters of the<br />

Caribbean, is located 121 km west of<br />

Santo Domingo. See page 67, Leaving<br />

the City.<br />

Azua <strong>de</strong> Compostela was foun<strong>de</strong>d<br />

in 1504 by Diego Velázquez,<br />

Conquistador of Cuba. On December<br />

7, 1508, King Ferdinand of Spain<br />

granted Azua his coat of arms, and in<br />

1845 it was raised to the status of a<br />

province.<br />

It was razed to the ground on three<br />

occasions by invading armies: Juan<br />

Jacobo Dessalines, who <strong>de</strong>clared<br />

Haiti in<strong>de</strong>pen<strong>de</strong>nce on January 1,<br />

1804, or<strong>de</strong>red his men to set it ablaze<br />

when he inva<strong>de</strong>d <strong>Dominican</strong> territory<br />

in 1805. In 1844, after the Haitian<br />

lea<strong>de</strong>r Charles Herald was <strong>de</strong>feated<br />

at the Battle of 19 <strong>de</strong> Marzo, he set<br />

the city aflame as he passed through<br />

Azua. Yet again in 1849, the Haitian<br />

presi<strong>de</strong>nt, Faustino Soulouque, left the<br />

city smol<strong>de</strong>ring as he retreated from his<br />

<strong>de</strong>feats at the battles of El Número and<br />

Las Carreras.<br />

If you are going to continue the trip,<br />

you must make a stop to stretch your<br />

legs and to drink “una fría” (the<br />

country’s famous Presi<strong>de</strong>nte beer<br />

frosted at its best). You can visit the<br />

Archeological Museum, an interesting<br />

display of cave art and then refresh<br />

yourself in the beautiful Playa Blanca.<br />

Azua natives are <strong>de</strong>servedly well-known<br />

for being courageous noblemen and<br />

having contributed many writers to<br />

<strong>Dominican</strong> literature. In Pueblo Viejo,<br />

near Azua, are found the ruins of the<br />

colonial city.<br />

<strong>Dominican</strong> <strong>Republic</strong><br />

109

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