Fortress of Columbus

Museum · Santo Domingo

Fortress of Columbus

Museum · Santo Domingo

Plaza de España, C. La Atarazana 2, Santo Domingo 10212, Dominican Republic

Highlights

Step back in time at the Alcázar de Colón, a 16th-century palace brimming with rich history, period art, and charming views of Zona Colonial.

Plaza de España, C. La Atarazana 2, Santo Domingo 10212, Dominican Republic Get directions

alcazardecolon.com

@museoalcazardecolon

@cntraveler

"The capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo is rich in history and culture, featuring the oldest European settlement in the Americas."

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@afar

"Don’t miss this Gothic Renaissance palace in the Zona Colonial, built between 1510 and 1514 for Christopher Columbus’s eldest son, Diego Colón (governor of the colony and viceroy of the Indies), and his wife, María de Toledo (niece of King Ferdinand ofSpain). Unfortunately, Francis Drake and his band of pirates pillaged the place in 1586, setting fire to the third floor on their way out. What’s left today is a believable re-creation of the original palace—minus one floor—where visiting conquistadores Balboa, Cortés, Pizarro, and Velázquez planned expeditions in grand rooms and plotted to conquer other lands. Visitors can take a solid audio tour of 22 restored rooms, including the viceroy’s waiting room and a ballroom with a crystal chandelier."

History and Culture in the Dominican Republic

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@afar

The Essential Guide to Santo Domingo

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Omar Gomez

Google

So cool to see this in person! In just this small area there are tons of historical things to see from the Spanish colonial time. Seeing the fortress of Columbus was really neat. Definitely recommend visiting.

Ashok Kadariya

Google

Beautiful Old historical residential museum in the heart of Zona Colonial which was built by Diego Columbus. The ticket to enter was about $2/person. It comes with an audio device where you can learn about the history of the museum and each room. On the second floor, you can see a beautiful view of the river and the Colonial area. We spent about 30-45 minutes here and it's definitely worth visiting if you are in the colonial area. It was not crowded and the staffs were pleasant.

Sanjay Gupta

Google

My bad luck, past 3 trips, I have encountered something like this every trip. Chicago- bean was under construction. Acadia, can’t see the sunset due to fog, and now this. The place was closed for renovation. Overlooking the Plaza de España and the Ozama River, the Alcázar de Colón (Columbus Palace) was built in the early 1500s as the governor’s residence. Once the home of Diego Colón, Christopher Columbus' son, this 16th-century viceregal palace (or residence of the governor/viceroy) was the nucleus of the Spanish court for more than 60 years. Explore 22 rooms over two stories inside the restored palace and museum, and see a collection of furniture, household items, artworks, tapestries, musical instruments, and weaponry, which offer a glimpse of life in Colonial Santo Domingo. A tour of the Alcázar de Colón is a must for anyone who wants to learn more about the city's rich history. And be sure to pick up some headphones to take advantage of the museum's self-guided audio tours Today, it’s one of the Colonial Zone’s most popular museums, and houses period furniture, artworks, and artifacts from the 16th century.

Carlo

Google

Fort complex with multimedia installations and knowledgeable staff.

Christiana Stasa

Google

It was interesting going back in time like that, visiting their home and walking through it's walls. The fee was very low for visiting the museum, only 2$ and the included audio tour was very good and helpful.

Abigail Epplett

Google

The Italian Renaissance inspired Alcazar de Colón [Castle of Columbus] is also called Palacio Virreinal de Diego Colón [Viceroy Palace of James Columbus]. This building was the first viceroy palace in the Americas, along with the home of Colón y Toledo. According to the sign on the outside of the palace, the family built the house by 1511 and lived in the house until 1577. Last restored in 1955, the building is now a historical museum with sporadic opening times. The museum was closed for maintenance during my visit.

John Knotwell

Google

We had a guided tour. It was facinating to learn about the history of these Spanish upper.class that came to live in Santo Domingo. Much of the furniture and decorations are original, even if the actual structure is not. Most notable was that Christopher Columbus son and his wife were the ones to occupy the palace. Really, quite exceptional to see

Jesus Fermin

Google

The place is well preserve with lots of history. Very detailed information from the old days of the Spanish high class. The audio gadget is a great help and nice way to get know about all things that are shown.