Catedral Primada de las Américas de Santo Domingo

Very well restored. The interior and exterior have been professionally restored.

Beautiful church. The tickets are 180dp with the audio guide, less than $3, completely reasonable.

It was off putting to have to pay to get inside a Catholic Cathedral. 100 DP with an audio guide or 80 w/o. Cheapened the otherwise beautiful inside scenery but it's DR, they'll try anything to make a buck or peso in this case. What was disturbing was the tour groups forming so that prevented free movement and made way too much noise while people were actually trying to worship.

This place was stunning! The structure was incredibly old and the craftsmanship was next to none. The pictures are beautiful but I assure you they don't do justice to the scale of beauty in this long standing structure. Well setup and stunning views in the beautiful colonial district of Santa Domingo.

Entry is very cheap and you can get a audioguide as well

Best known as the first cathedral of the Americas. The Cathedral of the Americas (Catedral Primada de America) is an imposing landmark overlooking Columbus Park in Santo Domingo’s historic district. Built-in the early 16th century, the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor is the oldest Catholic cathedral in the New World and among the finest examples of Gothic architecture outside Europe. The majestic building is unmissable thanks to its golden-tinted facade that’s even more impressive at sunrise and sunset. Behind its solid limestone walls are aisles under ornate vaulted ceilings, a great collection of early 16th-century paintings and colonial-era artifacts. Located in the Colonial Zone, the cathedral is one of Santo Domingo’s most famous religious sites and contains a large collection of woodcarving and religious artifacts. A functioning house of worship, the cathedral still holds mass regularly. You can also tour the interior of the cathedral and its grounds, either on a self-guided audio tour or during a guided sightseeing tour that also features other highlights in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo. There is a dress code to go inside. However, if you forget to dress appropriately, church employees will loan you a blanket or shawl to cover any exposed parts.

I didn't go inside, not much of a scene to me but I appreciate the architecture so I stopped and took some photos. If you like history and are into these kinds of things then you'll enjoy this. No way humans did this type of carving.

A must visit place if you are visiting Santo Domingo Dominican Republic. This is the oldest cathedral in the Americas. It does not have the depth of a cathedral in Europe, but it is still a must see. We paid the extra 20 pesos for a guided tours recording. Suggest a visit down the street to Valentino for yummy Italian Gelato ice cream.