Casa de Hernán Cortés is one of 15 buildings Nicolás de Ovando, the governor of Hispaniola, had ordered to be constructed.
Casa de Hernán Cortés now home of the French Embassy as seen on Calle el Conde
This Gothic style building was originally built in 1502 to rent to visitors. Ovando leased these houses to conquistadors who all organized and launched their conquests from their home base in Santo Domingo.
The name came about because it was the home of the explorer and conqueror of Mexico, Hernán Cortés. He was the most famous tenant of the house. Cortés planned his expedition and ultimate conquest of Mexico in this house. Other famous conquistadors who lived in the house include Francisco Pizarro, the conqueror of Peru, Diego Velasquez and Alonso de Ojeda.
French flag above the door of the French Embassy / Embajada Francés
Casa de Francia
The house was restored in 1978 and given the name Casa de Francia. It became the home of the Cultural Center of the Embajada Francés, French Embassy and Consulate in 1999. It houses space for cultural exhibitions including a ballroom, library, small theater, and a gift shop.
Location:
On the corner of Calle Las Damas and Calle El Conde.
also known as Casa de la Moneda / House of Currencies and El Museo Numismático Dominicano / The Numismatic Museum Dominicano
This historical house is believed to date from the first half of the sixteenth century. Its building coincided with the completion of the Cathedral around 1540.
Casa de los Medallones
It is named House of Medallions because of the five medallions with the human faces inside. There is one face above each pillar and the other three are centered above the doorway. The center face, an adolescent face with a hairstyle of that period, is thought to be the face of King Carlos the Fifth. Some say the other faces are the Kings faces also depicting different his different ages.
Casa de los Medallones faces above door
The homes original inhabitants are unknown. It is thought to have been the home of some rich government employee.
The story goes that this building is where silver coins were minted. This is not true. There was another building in front of this house where coins were minted. That building was demolished long ago.
Casa de los Medallones was restored in 1972 and is home to El Museo Numismático Dominicano / The Numismatic Museum Dominicano.
The street where this historical home is located is now called Arz. Meriño. The original street name was Calle Los Piateros translated as Silversmith’s Street.
Location:
Arzobispo Meriño #358 between Calle Mercedes and Emiliano Tejera. The house is across from the City Council parking lot.
All You Want To Know About The Oldest City In The Americas
