i Dominican Republic - travelfilm.de

of local and foreign products, and to the
general and jewelry shops of the colonial
district.
As we share with our guests the
fascinating pages of our country’s
history, it is equally important for us to
divulge that Hispaniola is, after all, the
old casona (big house) of the Americas
whose secret treasure-trove will continue
to enthrall all generations.
According to historical census records,
the colonial district encompasses some
three hundred monuments, churches,
street and residences. It would therefore
be wise to spread your visit over a couple
of trips. However, add to the repertoire
of things to see the Cathedral of Santa
María of the Incarnation, the first in the
Americas and a source of imperishable
pride for Dominicans.
At a time when renascent classical
forms were undergoing a reappraisal in
Spain, the architect Alonso de Rodríguez
received on May 25, 1510 a royal edict
to start construction on a cathedral in
Santo Domingo de Guzmán.
He sailed for Hispaniola on June
13th of that same year with eleven
constructors and two stonemasons. Soon
afterward, Don Diego Colón laid the
foundation stone and work commenced.
Nevertheless, the excitement generated
by the prospect of booty on conquistador
expeditions drained the project of its
skilled labor. Many workers, attracted
by tales of wealth on the outskirts of the
Spanish empire, abandoned the project.
A dejected yet resourceful Alonso de
Rodríguez embarked for Mexico, armed
with the construction plans, where he
built the Catedral de Ciudad México
(Cathedral of Mexico City).
In 1519, Bishop Alejandro Geraldini
arrived on the island and bitterly
complained about the stark disparity
between the opulent lifestyles of the
congregation and the “bohio-like “ (hutlike)
structure that passed for a cathedral.
He tried to resurrect the project by
symbolically laying another foundation
stone on March 25, 1521. The effort to
jump-start the project took two years. For
17 years, time crept in its very petty pace
while barely any progress was made.
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