Santo Domingo: Palacio Virreinal de Diego Colón
The Palacio Virreinal de Diego Colón, a.k.a. Alcázar de Colón, is the oldest viceregal residence in America. Diego Colón, the son of Christopher Columbus, had it built when he became Viceroy of Española and the Indies in 1509. It was constructed 1510-12 and included about 50 rooms as well as gardens and courtyards. During the early Spanish colonial period, the mansion was the center of the Spanish colonial endeavors--all major expeditions of conquest and exploration in the first half of the 16th century were planned here.
In 1586, the palace was sacked by the English pirate Sir Francis Drake and his forces who destroyed most of Santo Domingo during their occupation. As the influence of Santo Domingo waned, the house fell into ruins, and by the mid-18th century was abandoned and used as a dump site. It was extensively restored in the 1950s, but what remains today is only about half of its former size. Today, it houses a formidable collection of European late medieval and Renaissance works of art; of note is the tapestry collection.
Santo Domingo: Palacio Virreinal de Diego Colón
The Palacio Virreinal de Diego Colón, a.k.a. Alcázar de Colón, is the oldest viceregal residence in America. Diego Colón, the son of Christopher Columbus, had it built when he became Viceroy of Española and the Indies in 1509. It was constructed 1510-12 and included about 50 rooms as well as gardens and courtyards. During the early Spanish colonial period, the mansion was the center of the Spanish colonial endeavors--all major expeditions of conquest and exploration in the first half of the 16th century were planned here.
In 1586, the palace was sacked by the English pirate Sir Francis Drake and his forces who destroyed most of Santo Domingo during their occupation. As the influence of Santo Domingo waned, the house fell into ruins, and by the mid-18th century was abandoned and used as a dump site. It was extensively restored in the 1950s, but what remains today is only about half of its former size. Today, it houses a formidable collection of European late medieval and Renaissance works of art; of note is the tapestry collection.