Tag Archives: colonial city

Hotels

Hostal Parque

Hostal Parque

Closed until further notice.

(formally known as Hostal – Aparthotel Condo Parque & Venus Cafe Bar)

Front of the Hostel Parque
Front of the Hostel Parque

The Apartment – Hotel – Hostal Condo Parque has it all

; affordability, location, comfort, cleanliness, service and attentive staff. It is an excellent value in a clean and safe environment. Aparthotel Condo Parque is a wonderful budget hotel and is one of the best options for a short or long term stay in the oldest city in the Americas, Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Hostal Parque Venus Bar Patio and Cafeteria

There are 14 apartments and studios with daily cleaning. The large roof-top penthouse is perfect for a long term stay. We also have backpackers’ rooms available for both male and female. All of our rooms are comfortable, secure and are cleaned daily. You have the Malecon (the sea side road), Calle el Conde, shopping, restaurants, buses and all the museums and sights of the Colonial City, all within a few blocks of the front door.

Check prices and availability of Hostal – Hotel Condo Parque at Travelocity

Read the reviews of Condo-Parque on TripAdvisor

Night view from Hostal Parque roof-top terrace

Venus Bar

Located in the lobby is Venus Bar and Cafeteria. Here you can enjoy a cold or hot drink, breakfast, local homemade dishes and pleasant conversation. Here you can chat and share your adventures or get some sightseeing information. If you choose you can sit quietly and unwind in the peaceful atmosphere near the small garden pool. You can lounge in the bar or relax in the Spanish-style courtyard and enjoy the fresh open space. There is free WiFi available in the Patio and Cafeteria.

Hostal Parque Venus Bar
Patio and Cafeteria

Our amenities include:

*Breakfast is included
*Security Lockers
*24-hour security
*Cable TV with international programming
*Free WiFi in the Bar and Patio
*Private Bathrooms with a shower and warm water
*Air Conditioning and/ or ceiling fan
*Studios have a kitchenette with refrigerator
*Luggage and bicycle storage

The apartment at Hostal Parque

Other pluses include:

*Bar and Cafeteria on location
*Bus station to Boca Chica Beach and other attractions is nearby.
*Backpackers are welcome.
*Dog friendly
*A typical Spanish interior courtyard for relaxing
*Roof -top terrace with a stunning view of Santo Domingo and the Caribbean Sea
*Languages spoken – English, Spanish, French and German
*Swiss management

Daylight view from Hostal Parque roof-top terrace

Hostal Condo Parque & Venus Cafe Bar
Calle Palo Hincado #165, Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana
Owner – Walter Rufenacht

Check prices and availability of Hostal – Hotel Condo Parque at Travelocity

Read the reviews of Condo-Parque on TripAdvisor

Historical Documents, Maps

Historical Maps

Old Antique Maps of Colonial Zone / Mapas Antiguos de la Zona Colonial

I have added some very old maps of the Dominican Republic when what is now Dominican Republic was named Hispaniola or was only known as Santo Domingo. It is interesting to see Colonial Zone when it was fresh and new (here is a historical document I found where the writer describes the city and island). The maps of the entire country are interesting to compare.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did when I found them.

1.Original City of Santo Domingo | 2.Plan du siège de Santo Domingo | 3.Louis Drake Mountains Map | 4.Joseph Spear Map | 5.Sir Francis Drakes Early Voyages

Original City of Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo 1755 – Stadt St. Domingo. C. F. Fritzsch, sculp. Chedel, del. 1755

A drawing of the original city of Santo Domingo – Colonial Zone. It is interesting to note the way the buildings look at this time and to notice that many of them are still the same today.

The maps name is: Stadt St. Domingo. C. F. Fritzsch, sculp. Chedel, del. This map is thought to be created and published by Leipzig in 1755. It is a perspective map and not drawn to scale. This is a birds-eye-view of the original fort which is now the Colonial Zone.

The map is located in the Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 20540-4650 USA
The digital ID of this map is: g4954s ct000107 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g4954s.ct000107

Plan du siège de Santo Doming[o] par Dess[a]lines, chef des révoltes de St. Domingue, forme le 15 ventôse et levé le 8 germinal an 13.

Plan du siège de Santo Doming[o] 1805

This map was created/published in 1805. It is a relief map showing the shadows and depth perspective. It is a pen and watercolor drawing. I cropped this section out of the map to show the Colonial City. It is interesting to see the buildings and the outskirts of the city. There seems to be nothing out there.

The full version that can be found in the Library of Congress
This map is stored in the Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 20540-4650 USA
Digital ID: g4954s ct000102 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g4954s.ct000102

Louis Drake Mountains Map

Louis Drake Mountains Map 1752

Map Title: North America, performed under the patronage of Louis Duke of Orleans, First Prince of the Blood; by the Sieur d’Anville, greatly improved by Mr. Bolton. Engraved by R. W. Seale. For Mr. Postlethwayte’s Dictionary of trade and commerce. Gravelot, delin; Walker, sculp. Created/Published: [London] Printed for John and Paul Knapton, 1752.

It is interesting to see in this map the shape of the island and the names of the towns. if you look at the other maps of the islands each has the island shaped a little differently.

Hand colored. Relief is shown pictorially. Shows provinces, cities and towns, forts, Indian villages and tribal territory. Also shows shoals, banks, and other navigational hazards off the coast of Nova Scotia and in the Caribbean area.
Repository: Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 20540-4650 USA
Map call number: G3300 1752 .B62 Vault
The Maps Digital ID: g3300 ar001300 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3300.ar001300

Joseph Spear Map

Joseph Spear map 1744

To His Royal Highness. George Augustus Frederick. Prince of Wales &c. &c. &c. This chart of the West Indies, is humbly inscribed by His Royal Highness faithful & obedient servant Joseph Smith Speer. Thos. Bowen, sculpt. Speer, Joseph Smith. Created/Published: Westminster, 1774.

It is interesting to see the names of the towns at that time. Also, Dominican Republic seems to have been known as Santo Domingo.

Relief shown pictorially. Depths are shown by soundings. Shows southern United States, Mexico, Central America, West Indies, Bermudas, and northern South America. Includes acknowledgment dated Jan. 25, 1774 at Plantation Office, Whitehall by John Pownall, secry.
Repository: Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 20540-4650 USA
Map call number: G4390 1774 .S62 Vault Oversize
Maps digital ID: g4390 ar169900 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g4390.ar169900

Sir Francis Drakes Early Voyages

Privateer Drake visited many parts of the island of Hispaniola and also other parts of the West Indies (as the area was called at that time).

Sir Francis Drake PDF Map (opens in a new window). Click on the maps to enlarge.

More information on Sir Francis Drake

Parks and Plazas, Streets/Calles

Calle el Conde

Calle el Conde/ Street of the Count

Calle el Conde is the oldest commercial street in the city of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. It runs directly through the center of Colonial Zone from Puerta Independencia (Puerta del Conde) to the Escaleras del Conde that end at the Malecon at Rio Ozama.

At the beginning (or the end) of Calle el Conde is Puerta del Conde at the entrance to Parque Independencia at night.
At the beginning (or the end) of Calle el Conde is Puerta del Conde at the entrance to Parque Independencia at night.

This pedestrian only street is named after the Count of Peñalva, Bernardo de Meneses y Bracamonte, the captain general of Santo Domingo. Some of the manes this historical street has been called include Calle de la Separación, Clavijo, Imperial, 27 de Febrero and Real.

Calle el Conde at Hostos 1940's
Calle el Conde at Hostos 1940’s

El Conde runs through the center of the colonial city. It is very easy to navigate your way around the city from this street, finding your way around the Zone quite easily.

The beautiful Escaleras Calle el Conde / Stairs of the Conde at the end of Calle el Conde
The beautiful Escaleras Calle el Conde / Stairs of the Conde at the end of Calle el Conde

This is a very busy thoroughfare and was closed to traffic many years ago. It is 11 block cobblestone street is lined with stores, restaurants, hotels, homes and a variety of businesses, some open and others closed. There are all types of humans to see and some friendly street dogs also.

Buenagente, the famous dog, is taking a stroll down Calle el Conde
Buenagente, the famous dog, is taking a stroll down Calle el Conde.

There are people everywhere. Some selling their wares in the street and inside the many shops. Others are shopping or just taking a stroll.

Calle el Conde a very busy street
Calle el Conde a very busy street.

It is one of the most popular shopping areas for Dominicans and tourists alike. Sit on one of the benches or open air cafes along Conde Street and watch the people passing by. You may even see a street performer or some impromptu activity from some passerby that you will remember forever.

A chess tournament on Calle el Conde
A chess tournament on Calle el Conde

Location:

Calle el Conde runs from the Puerta del Conde (Parque Independencia) at its farthest west point continuing on to Calle las Damas, the Escaleras del Conde and on to the Malecon at its eastern end.