Category:

Religious Tourism

Cultural

Sports

Location:

This province borders on the north by the province of Puerto Plata, on the east by the provinces Espaillat (Moca) and La Vega, south of the province of San Juan de la Maguana and west by the provinces Santiago Rodriguez and Valverde

About Santiago:

• Santiago is the capital city of this province and was created in 1844 as a province. Santiago consists of an area of 2,836.51 square kilometers.
• This province has a diverse economy. Among the main industries are the tobacco, free zones and livestock which the main development is shown by the raising of poultry and pigs and cattle.
• Santiago has witnessed important historical events. One is the Battle of 30 March 1844, with whom Dominicans consolidate its independence and that occurred in the actual Park named Imbert.
• Baseball is the most popular game played in the city, followed by basketball. The baseball team of the city is the “Aguilas Cibaeñas” (Cibao Eagles) and is the team that has won more winter baseball games from the Dominican Republic with 20 crowns. This team plays at Estadio Cibao.

Climate:

Santiago's climate is tropical and has warm temperature between 20 ° C and 32 ° C throughout the year.

How to get there?

• By air: The nearest airport is located within province is the Cibao International Airport (STI). Other nearby airports: Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) in Santo Domingo and the Gregorio Luperon International Airport (POP) in Puerto Plata.
• By car: Direct access through Duarte Highway, 2 hours from Santo Domingo. Also from Puerto Plata that is two hours away.

Attractions:

Cibao Great Theater: It is a replica of the National Theater of Santo Domingo and was designed by architect Luis Carbonell. This theatre presents shows of national and international artists. It has two halls: "The Restoration” and “Julio Alberto Hernandez." It is covered in travertine marble. The marble floor is Belgian and has four sculptures of the authorship of the Spanish sculptor Juan Avalo, which correspond to: Lopez de Vega, Calderon de la Barca, Fray de Leon and Sor Juana Ines de la Cross and the walls are carved in the national mahogany tree.

Eduardo Leon Jimenez Cultural Center: One of the most important cultural centers of Latin America and the Caribbean and is currently the most well known museum in the country. It has three rooms, two with permanent exhibition: Signs of Identity, Genesis and Trajectory that every two years exhibits selected works of art contest Eduardo Leon Jimenez and also has a temporary exhibition hall. In the gardens is located the “Caribbean Patio”, where they make projections gatherings and events of interest and live performances.

Photo Gallery here.

Santiago Center of Culture: It is the place that gathers cultural exhibitions and activities related to the fine arts. It includes exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, plays, ballets and concerts. This venue also serves as art education center.

Cathedral of Apostle James: It was constructed between 1868 and 1894 by Onofre de Lora and consecrated on 21 January 1895. It is considered the essential eclectic monument in the city, and it maintains one of the only two copies that exist in the world of sculpture of The Pieta by Michelangelo. The cathedral also contains the remains of former President Ulises Heureaux and General Jose Maria Imbert, Fernando Valerio, Pedro Antonio Pimentel and Lucas Evangelista de Peña. The main façade is placed close to three beautiful carved with figures of urban motifs and allegorical motifs of the lives of Jesus and James the Apostle and to the battle of Santiago on 30 March 1844, worked by sculptor Caspar Mario Cruz. Its atrium is a symbolic expression of Jesus, the Twelve Apostles and the four theological virtues which is the work of artist Bismark Victoria.

Cibao Stadium: It was opened on 25 October 1958. The stadium is a multipurpose stadium located in the city of Santiago, and is regularly used primarily for baseball practice and serves as headquarters for the baseball team “Aguilas Cibaenas”. The stadium has a capacity for approximately 18,077 spectators and its dimensions in the right field are 335 feet, 335 feet for left field and 385 feet in center field.

Cibao Arena: Previously named “Oscar Palacio de los Deportes Oscar Gobaira” and after remodeling was renamed Cibao Arena. It’s official area of competition has all the technical requirements to host Central American, Panamerican and even Worldwide tournaments. It functions as a venue for Basketball games, volleyball, and concerts.

Restoration Heroes Monument: Located  at  the  entrance  to  the  city, was  built  on the  orders  of dictator

Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina.  It is located on the top of a hill on the east side of town. It was designed by architect Henry Gazon Bona and its construction began on 30 April 1944 with the centenary of national independence and it ended that same year.

In the fall of the Trujillo regime was given the name it bears today. It has a height of 70 meters and its structure is mainly of marble. The interior is decorated with murals by Vela Zanetti painter. It has a staircase of 365 steps leading up to the viewpoint at the top and at the bottom is surrounded by Ionian-style columns. It has established itself with the passage of time as one of public spaces for entertainment and recreation of Santiago people and visitors who go to the city.

Dominican Museum of Cigars: Located in the Duarte Park, an area that has some of the most important monuments of the city.

This museum exhibits everything related to the cultivation, processing and export of the Dominican Cigar. Is considered as one of the best in the world and is preferred by a large percentage of cigar consumers worldwide.

Tips:

• Wear cool clothing, hat and sunscreen.
• Camera for beautiful photos!