The Panteón Nacional, also know by the names Panteón de la Patria, National Mausoleum or Pantheon of the Homeland, was originally a Jesuit Convent. The National Pantheon is now the mausoleum that houses the remains of many of the national heroes of the Dominican Republic.

Church of the Jesuits

Constructed between 1715 and 1745 this Rococo style building was originally the Jesuits Convent/ Convento de San Igancio de Loyola for the Jesuits. It was the Jesuits home until 1767 when they were expelled from the country.

After the church was closed the building was used as a tobacco warehouse, a theater and a government office building.

The Panteón Nacional, Dominican Republic. The back window.

Restoring The Building For Trujillo

The Dominican Republic dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo, in 1958, had the building repaired. Spanish architect Javier Barroso was hired to restore the building so it could be used as Trujillo’s personal mausoleum.

Trujillo planned on having his remains interred in the restored building when he died. His dream never happened. In 1961, after his assassination, Trujillo’s body was removed from the country. The building never held his remains.

The National Pantheon, Dominican Republic. — The National Pantheon, Dominican Republic interior

National Mausoleum

In the 1970’s the old Jesuit Convent was converted into the Panteón Nacional. A national mausoleum where many heroes of the Republic are laid to rest, including Trujillo’s assassins.

The architectural style of this majestic looking building is Neo-Renaissance. The facade of the building is very impressive with the bell tower and the Dominican Coat of Arms beautifully sculpted above the door.

Panteón Nacional, República Dominicana. Front of the building.

The interior of the Pantheon has a Baroque style. The red carpet down the center with a guard on duty watching over the persons interred and the eternal flame both provide a very reverent feel when entering the building. The light coming through the large glass window in the rear of the building adds a lovely light to the solemn interior. The copper chandelier in the center ceiling of the mausoleum, donated by Francisco Franco (a Spanish head of state), is quite elegant.

The National Pantheon, Dominican Republic mural of the Ascension to Heaven

Painted on one of the vaulted ceilings is a stunning mural. This impressive sacred art is called “Ascensión a los Cielos” / “Ascension to Heaven” and “El Juicio Final” / “The Last Judgement” by Spanish painter Rafael Pellicer.

The National Pantheon, Dominican Republic chandelier — The National Pantheon, Dominican Republic. The chandelier donated by Francisco Franco

Heroes Interred (2021)

The Panteón Nacional contains the remains of many of the national heroes of the Dominican Republic.

Independence Heroes (from Spain and Haiti): General Juan Sanchez Ramirez, Jose Nunez de Caceres, Juan Nepomuceno Ravelo, Pedro Alejandrino Pina, Juan Isidro Perez, Felix Maria Ruiz, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Socorro Sanchez, Balbina de Pena, Admiral Juan Alejandro Acosta, Admiral Juan Bautista Cambiaso, Concepcion Bona, General Jose Joaquin Puello, General Jose Maria Gabral, Gabino Puello, Angel Perdomo, General Pedro Santana.

Heroes of the Restoration (Independence from Spain): General Gregorio Luperon, General Benito Moncion, General Santiago Rodriguez, General Gaspar Polanco, General Antonio Batista, Colonel Jose Pierre Thomas, Colonel Carlos de Lara, Commander Jose Vidal Pichardo, Ulises Francisco Espaillat, Lieutenant Ambrosio de la Cruz, Eugenio Perdomo, Pedro Ignacio Espaillat, General Jose Antonio Salcedo, Pedro Francisco Bono, Benigno Filomeno de Rojas and Rosa Protomártir Duarte y Díez(2012).

Presidents: President Francisco Henriquez Carvajal and President Francisco Gregorio Billini

Historians: Jose Gabriel Garcia, Antonio Delmonte y Tejada

Panteón Nacional located on Calle Las Damas.

Location – Hours

Location: From Calle el Conde turn north onto Calle las Damas. Pass the small Plaza Maria Toledo on the left side of the street. The wall of the Panteón runs along the end of the plaza.

Hours: 9 to 4:30 daily except holidays. Entrance is free. Proper dress is required (no shorts, short skirts, tank tops…) and they expect reverence when you enter the building.

Front of the Panteón Nacional before it opens with the tour guides preparing for their day.

Be aware of the tour guides outside the building. They tell you that it does not cost money to enter. If you do use their guide services they expect to be paid but usually do not tell you that they expect to be paid until after the tour. You can enter without a guide but if you do want to use a guide ask about how much he wants paid in advance.

Churches / Iglesias

Iglesia de San Miguel

Iglesia de San Miguel / Church Of San Miguel

Iglesia de San Miguel is named after the mighty archangel Saint Michael. The church is a small eighteenth-century temple that evolved from a sixteenth-century chapel.

The front of the Iglesia San Miguel and a view of the Parque San Miguel.

Iglesia de San Miguel

The first mention of this church was in 1650. It was first constructed entirely of straw and in 1740 the temple was built with solid materials by order the Royal Treasurer of the Colony, Don Miguel de Pasamonte. At this time it was one of the richest chapels in the city.

Destroyed By Earthquake

The building was almost entirely destroyed in the big earthquake in 1751, as were many of the buildings in Colonial Zone. The Iglesia was entirely rebuilt in 1765 in a bad attempt at Baroque style. It was used as a parish during the construction boom of this era.

The side wall of the Iglesia San Miguel along Calle Juan Isidro Perez

Home of Black Brotherhoods

The church ended up being located in “the black section” of town. In 1784 the building was to be a hospital for slaves. The decree was never followed and it never happened. Then, in 1796, it was decreed that San Miguel be called the Código Negro Carolino, the home of all the black brotherhoods. These African slaves and blacks who lived in this sector chose the warrior figure because they saw in the Archangel San Miguel a figure that would defend them from the white demons.

Arcángel San Miguel

With his sword held high, the image of Arcángel San Miguel located in the front of the church is impressive. This wood carving is thought to be from the late seventeenth century and belonged to the old hermitage. Archangel Saint Michael is the Angel who defends the people against Satan and is the prince of all the heavenly armies. The leader of God’s chosen army, he is the guardian angel and the protector of the Catholic Church.

Festival of San Miguel

The Festival of the Patron Saint San Miguel is held here every year on September 29th. Here is a link to a video on You Tube – Festival San Miguel Palos Music 2014

Location:

From Calle el Conde turn north (up the hill) onto José Reyes. Walk about 4 blocks to Juan Isidro Pérez near Calle Restauracion. It is in front of the nice tree filled park Parque San Miguel.

Forts, Fortalezas and Walls

Fuerte Carina and Angulo

Fuerte La Carina & Fuerte de Angulo

The Fuerte de la Carena and Fuerte de Angulo are difficult to tell apart as they seem to be interconnected. When the Malecon (Avenida del Puerto Francisco Alberto Camaaño Deñó) was built much of both of these forts were destroyed and lost forever.

Fuerte de la Carena | Fuerte de Angulo

View of Fuerte de la Carena and Fuetrte Angulo from the catwalk.

You can walk along the walls of the city of Santo Domingo, now known as Colonial Zone, and see where these forts once were. There are still some catwalks atop the walls where you can walk and see over the walls. Looking down from the walls of these forts you can see the Malecon and the legendary trunk of the Ceiba de Colón

Starting at the entrance to the Barrio Santa Barbara you can walk along the walls of both forts. The forts walls ends at the Iglesia and Fuerte Santa Barbara.

Fuerte de la Carena

Fort of the Carena is a small rectangular bunker located to the north of Fuerte de Angulo. The original structure dates back to 1543. This is part of the Fort of Santo Domingo where boats were brought for repair.

The fort was rebuilt on its original foundation in 1991.

Directions: Avenida del Puerto along the wall of the Fort Santo Domingo. Calle La Atarazana and General Cabral.

Fuerte de Angulo

Fuerte de Angulo was a military station and was originally named the Fuertecillo when it was originally constructed in the 18th century. The fort was rebuilt in 1991.

You can see the walls of this fort as you enter the Colonial Zone on Avenida del Puerto crossing the Puente Flotante / Floating Bridge and looking to the right.

The new Plaza del Fuerte de Angulo and the catwalk leading to the Fuerte Santa Barbara.

Directions: Avenida del Puerto and Juan Parra Alba on the outside wall. Inside the wall Calle La Atarazana, Calle Colón and Calle La Negrita, Barrio Santa Barbara.

Guide to the Colonial Zone and Dominican Republic

Category Archives: COLONIAL ZONE SIGHTS, MONUMENTS & PARKS

Panteón Nacional

Panteón Nacional, República Dominicana/ National Pantheon, Dominican Republic

Church of the Jesuits

Restoring The Building For Trujillo

National Mausoleum

Heroes Interred (2021)

Location – Hours

Iglesia de San Miguel

Iglesia de San Miguel / Church Of San Miguel

Iglesia de San Miguel

Destroyed By Earthquake

Home of Black Brotherhoods

Arcángel San Miguel

Festival of San Miguel

Location:

Fuerte Carina and Angulo

Fuerte La Carina & Fuerte de Angulo

Fuerte de la Carena

Fuerte de Angulo

All You Want To Know About The Oldest City In The Americas