i Dominican Republic - travelfilm.de

Here, for the first time the cross (symbol
of Christianity in the Americas) was
erected. Legend has it that in the midst of
a bloody battle fought between the native
Taínos and the Spaniards, the Viregen de
las Mercedes appeared when cacique
Guarionex tried unsuccessfully to burn the
cross.
It was also here, in 1492, that
Christopher Columbus planted the cross
that had been given to him by Queen
Isabel la Católica when he left Puerto
de Palos de Moguer. Visitors can view
a piece of the cross, preserved as a
silent witness to the ignominious tragedy
that was visited upon the indigenous
people of the Americas. They can also
contemplate the beauty of the Valle de
la Vega Real from the very spot where
Admiral Don Christopher Columbus
exclaimed before its magnificence: “This
is the most beautiful land that human eyes
have ever beheld.”
The Carnaval de La Vega, Folkloric
Patrimony of the Nation, is a colorful
cultural event that attracts many national
and foreign visitors to the beautiful city
of La Vega every February; visitors who
enthusiastically wander through the Las
Flores Park and its surrounding areas
dancing in the streets to the contagious
and exhilarating beat of traditional
carnival music.
• How to Get There
Take Duarte Highway (N 1), about 130
km from Santo Domingo.
• Where to Go
Ruins of La Vega Vieja o Ruins of the
Franciscan Monastery o Santo Cerro (Holy
Hill) o La Plaza de La Catedral (Cathedral
Plaza) o Balnearios of Bayacanes and
Acapulco o During carnival season the
beautiful countryside of La Vega is ideal for
enjoying rural tourism.
• Where to Stay
There are simple accommodations for travelers,
but on a day-trip a stay in Jarabacoa is
recommended.
• Info:
Tourism Office � 809-242-3231
Mountain tourism
Visitors who associate mountains with
winter sports should be informed that
these mountains offer a year-round very
mild, cool temperatures; its monotonous
tranquility is broken only occasionally
by the chant of a nightingale, the
mesmerizing notes of crystalline creek
cascading down some falls, or a gentle
breeze that gently caresses the pine trees.
Dominican Republic
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