The Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor is the oldest cathedral in the Americas. According to Wikipedia, the construction begun in 1512 and finished in the year 1540.
It is one of the top-notch attraction sites in Santo Domingo. This architectural and artistic marvel is located in Colonial Zone (Zona Colonial) near the Columbus Park (Parque Colon) where the hundreds of pigeons chill around. The building's elements exist in a Gothic style architecture that predominant in Europe with a mix of baroque and plateresque styles. The exterior is beautiful but it doesn't speak for what's inside. To begin with, its vaulted ceiling is impressive, so do the tall solid limestone walls and pillars.
Personally, there is something spiritually magical everytime I step in it. It is almost the same feeling that I have whenever I visit the infamous massive Angkor Wat back in my homeland. I do love anything with rich history behind. Most of us do, right? Despite the fact that the interior of the cathedral has been fitted with modern lighting, sounding, cooling systems almost everywhere, it doesn't stop me from having the feeling of being taken back to the past to its history and the Columbus thing which alone is already impressive enough. It was like being in the time machine backward in time. There have been plenty of people, groups of tourists every time I was there but I've never once felt if I have been disturbed by the crowd or my feet being stepped on. Everyone seems to just wrap themselves up and give a quiet admiration to the simple yet elegant 500 year-old Catedral Primada de America. At every corner you turn, stand masterpieces of arts and sculptures. The historic mahogany doors still remain as well as several beautiful stained-glass windows, mural paintings, tombstones, chandeliers, ancient woodcarvings, sacred cross, monuments and old furnitures.
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| Front entrance |
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| My daughter, Columbus, and the rear of the cathedral |
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| Columbus and his pigeons |
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| My misery company of that day. One of the many pigeons |
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| My favourite spot. Near where the tickets are sold |
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| Interior. No proper words for it |
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| Interior |
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| Stained-glass. Ceiling |
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| Interior |
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| Interior. Altar |
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| Interior. Vaulted ceiling. Stained-glass |
If you could ever make it to the DR, don't only head out to the
beaches aiming at the kiosks and mojitos, DR also has a wonderful and interesting history at the New
World. Apart from the colonies of pigeons and the Amber museum nearby.
I am so glad to be some kind of a "local" of this beautiful island. :-)
Cheers,
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