Outside of the park on the left side is a small fenced off area called Plaza Patriótica a los Caídos de la Revolución de Abril de 1965. Un homenaje del pueblo dominicano a los Héroes y Mártires de la guerra patria De 1965/ Fallen Patriot Square of the Revolution April 1965. A tribute to the Dominican people and the heroes and martyrs of the Patriotic War of 1965.
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Independence Park/ Parque Independencia was converted to a park in 1912 when Architect Antonin Nechodoma did a redesign. This design later made way for the Altar de la Patria. The road that ran through the center of the park was closed and benches added.
As you enter the gate flanked by two uniformed guards you will really be leaving the original walled city of Santo Domingo. You are now outside the original protection that existed in the colonial days.
As with many of these important military installations they used moats for protection. Here you can see a triangular shaped moat/ foso running towards what is now San Carlos. These moats were used to protect the west along with several guard booths/ garitas. There are stairs where you can descend into the moat and shaded tunnels that are below the parks walk ways.
Since this gate was the main way in and out of the city of Santo Domingo the walls of defense here were very important for protection from any attacks coming by land including roving bands of marauders and those sneaky pirates.
If you walk straight ahead you will you will see the Altar of the Patriots with its glowing shield atop the tall entrance. It is surrounded by water making it small island at the back of the park. There are 4 walkway bridges leading to the centrally located marble monument.
Make sure you pay attention or you could trip over a raised bronze sculpture in the center of the walkway. This is a 32 point star compass. From here is measured all points of the country. Here marks kilometer 0/ kilómetro cero.
To the left, across a moat there are 2 monuments.
Closest to the wall is a bust of Pedro Alejandrino Piña. He was a writer and one of the leaders of The Trinitarian/ La Trinitaria for the patriotism who fought for the freedom of the Dominican people.
There is also a statue of a beautiful woman looking so calm and gentle and a little forlorn. Holding this distinguished position is Dona Manuela Diez de Duarte, the mother of the Founding Father Juan Pablo Duarte. Manuela was born in Santa Cruz del Seybo June 27, 1786. She married Juan Jose Duarte in 1800 probably in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. They had eight children: Vicente Celestino, Juan Pablo, Filomena, Rosa, María Francisca, Manuel, Ana María y Sandalia. She died in Caracas on December 31, 1858. She occupies a distinguished position in the select group of Women of the Independence.
Directions: Parque Independencia, Palo Hincado and Calle el Conde, Colonial Zone, Santo Domingo. The roads surrounding the park are Avenida Independencia, Ave. Bolívar, Palo Hincado, Arzobispo Nouel, Mariano Cesteros. Calle el Conde lines up a direct path to the front gate. Park hours are from 8:30 to 6 daily. See the map (number 1)