Park or Plaza of Fort San Jose / Parque o Plaza de Fuerte de San Jose
This park is quite nice and is frequented by the friends and neighbors that live in the area. You can hang out and meet some of the friendly locals and there is usually some dominoes being played here as well. It has many beautiful large shade making trees with concrete benches encircling them.
This large gated cemetery has been around for more than 500 years. It was inaugurated in 1824. Buried beneath the soil is history in abundance. Yet we will never know all who are buried in this disorganized resting place as many of the graves are not marked. Many of the founders, the people that created Santo Domingo, are buried here. The plagues that spread throughout the country are represented here amongst the graves many of which are children and infants. The dead from hurricane San Zenón that took many lives are represented here as well. Many different races and nationalities have been laid to rest in this bleak but interesting place. There are people from the Haitian occupation buried here with their tomb stones written in French. There are dead here from wars, The War of Restauración, Annexation to Spain, The War of Independence, The Intervention of the US Marines (6 Marines are buried here), There are tombs of many of the Dominican Republic Presidents here including Francisco Gregorio Billini Aristy, El Padre Billini and José Núñez de Cáceres (1772-1846). Take a walk here and view the tombs and the strange grave markers from times past.
This cemetery has been declared Patrimonio Cultural/ Cultural Patrimony yet it is highly ignored by the Dominican peoples. Outside the gates at night can be seen the street people, sleeping on pieces of cardboard. There are rats scurrying along doing who knows what in the dark cemetery.
Passing by in the daylight one can always see dogs inside the gates. Sleeping on a grave. Could it be the grave of its master? One day I saw a dog laying atop a grave chewing on a large bone. Makes one think...
Location: Go to the beginning (west) of the Conde at Independencia Park. Turn left (south) walking in front of the park. Take the first road to the right (south), Ave. Independencia (at the end of Arz. Nouel the street name changes), and continue walking up this street (away from the Colonial Zone). The cemetery is 2 blocks up on the left. Check the map of Colonial Zone for the exact location (opens in a new window).
Page 7 continued - PARKS/ PARQUES, PLAZAS/ PLAZOLETAS(small plazas) 2
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monument Angel at Rest marking the Italian boy, Michellito Masturzzi's gravesite.
Cementerio de la Avenida Independencia/Cemetery on Avenue Independencia
Parque Duarte
This calm shaded park is a nice place to sit and wile away an afternoon. There are benches where you can sit under a tree, relax and watch the world pass by.This square was also known as Anacaona Plaza, Santo Domingo Plaza and Plaza of the Ex-Convict Dominico.
This plaza named after Fray/ Friar Las Casas. This was the location of his home built in the mid 1600's. known as the Royal Protector of the Indians. It is surrounded by a wall and fence that is usually only open for concerts and special events because of the limited access until recently. Now the gates seem to be open more often.
Plazoleta Padre Billini
This small plaza is dedicated to Father Francisco Xavier Billini. He is known as the protector of the poor man. His statue stands in the center of this plaza. Billini founded the Hospital de la Beneficencia which was the first charity hospital here in Dominican Republic. He also developed the lottery so as to help pay for these the poorest of patients.
Plaza at Ermita de San Anton and Fort San Francisco
I am not sure of the exact name of this plaza but it runs from the Ruins of the San Francisco Monistary, past the Chapel - Ermita de San Anton up to the old fort that is gone of San Francisco.
It is a nice walk, very peaceful. With all the steps going up the hill and the nice old wooden houses that are in abundance in this little neighborhood, it is a great place for taking pictures of the Ruinas. there always seems to be some of the neighborhood children playing. Sometimes the people living there sell their wares and you can purchase some fruits or home cooked foods.
Location: Walking from the Conde go up the hill (north) on Meriño or Hostos. Walk approximately 5 blocks past the Ruins of San Francisco. It is behind the ruins on Resturacion and Vicente C. Duarte. Check the
map of Colonial Zone for the exact location (opens in a new window).
Real Life and Times in the Dominican Republic
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Picture of the park and fort San Jose. The ramp leading to the shooting deck and the beautiful trees that are in the park
Duarte Park is rich in history. Haitian separatists fought for independence at this site in 1843. It was also the site of bullfights. The statue of Duarte in the center of the park was erected in 1930. The park faces the Capilla Dominicos (where the first university of the New World was founded in 1538).
In the night this place is over run by young people partying, drinking and listening to music. I call this park "the alternative lifestyle park" as it has a variety of visitors in the evenings. Artists, musicians, gay, and strait, young and old. A very interesting place to observe and enjoy partying with a variety of humans.
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Picture of Parque Duarte showing a panoramic view of the entire park.
The plaza entrance is accessed through arched passages and can only be accessed during the day when the gates are unlocked. One of these arches is called the Puerta del Perdón/ The Door of Pardon. This archway leads to a small alley way type path where the people of the colonial times liked to take an afternoon stroll. This path is called El Callejón de los Curas/The Alley of Cures and it is a beautiful little stroll as it is laden with overhanging flowers and vines.
Located near this plaza was a colonial religious cemetery that is no longer there.
Location: Walking down (south) Isabel la Católica behind the Cathedral de Santa Maria at Colon Park. Directly behind the church behind the large black gates. Check the
map of Colonial Zone for the exact location (opens in a new window).
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The Alley of Cures or Priests Alley with its overhanging flowers
The park is not kept up well and needs some attention but there is a grand modern statue of Fray Bartolomé in it's center created by Juan de Vaquero..
Location: Walking from the Conde turn onto Hostos going south toward the sea. Past Parque Duarte to Padre Billini on the left behind a gated wall. Check the
map of Colonial Zone for the exact location (opens in a new window).
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Plaza Bartolomé de las Casas
This plaza is very quite and has no benches for sitting. It is attractive with it's beautifully kept flower beds that seem to always be in bloom.
Location: Walking from the Conde turn on Arzobispo Meriño south toward the sea. Walk about a block and a half and it is on the left side before you get to Padre Billini. Check the
map of Colonial Zone for the exact location (opens in a new window).
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