Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic is a Caribbean country situated on the island of “La Española,” sharing the island with the country of Haiti. “La Española” is the second largest island in the archipelago of the Antilles, being situated west of Puerto Rico, and east of Cuba and Jamaica.
Dominicans sometimes refer to their island as Quisqueya, a name for “La Española” used by indigenous Taíno that means "mother of all lands."
Dominican Republic is much more than sun and beaches. Starting with Santo Domingo, founded in 1496, which was the first city in the new world, with its colonial area declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
One may also visit the highest peak in the Caribbean, walk through the first streets, the first hospital, the first university and the first paved road in the New World. The landscapes are extremely contrasting and captivating - unusual places with an incalculable and surprising beauty.
Spanish heritage highlights the extraordinary monuments and moments that marked early colonial history. The Taino people of the island in prehistoric times have left original and striking art, works in leather, wood, amber, larimar (national stone), clay, etc.
In order to get to know the culture of the Dominicans, one must to discover the joy of living, which is mainly expressed through popular traditions: Carnival and especially the pervasiveness of dance: Merengue.