Malecón de Santo Domingo
In June 2023, during my trip to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, I walked the Malecón de Santo Domingo, a seaside boardwalk. Running parallel to the coast and the busy highway George Washington Avenue, the Malecón offers picturesque seascape views along with memorials to historical events and people throughout the history of the city.
Monumento a la Inmigración Japonés
Dedicated to Japonese immigrants who lived in the Dominican Republic during the mid 20th century, the memorial complex comprised of a statue of a family on a pedastal, an engraved rock, and a large sign. This sign listed some fathers of Japanese families who came to the Dominican Republic, which totalled 249 families in all. The immigration agreement between the two countries lasted only during the final years of the the Trujillo era, beginning in 1956 and ending in 1960. The Dominican government was supposed provided work, land, and housing to Japanese families. In turn, the families would produce typical Dominican crops like soy, coffee, and tobacco. However, the Japanese farmers never received the amount and quality of land promised by the Dominican government. The assassination of Trujillo in 1961 worsened the many problems with the project. Most families either returned to Japan or moved to South America, although a few remained in the country. The monument was a belated apology to the families.
Monumento Fray Antonio de Montesino
This towering statue on top of a bulding depicts Fray Antonio de Montesino, a Spanish Dominican friar from the early 16th century, giving a passionate sermon about the mistreatment of the Taíno by the Spanish. Montesino supported the abolition of slavery and did not allow slaveowners to give confession, which angered colonial governor Diego Colón. The government forced Montesino and the other Dominican friars to return to Spain. Montesino worked with Bartolomé de las Casas, whose own statue I saw while on the ChuChu in Ciudad Colonial, to convince Fernando II to pass a law protecting indiginous people in the Carribean. The modern statue stands about 18 meters (26 feet) high and is located within Consejo Judicial Centroamericano y del Caribe [Central American and Caribbean Judicial Council].
Plaza Patriótica Presidente Juan Bosch y Constitución y Naufragio de la Balandra Aurora
This little plaza had a long name! Juan Bosch was the first democratically, constitutionally elected president of the Dominican Republic. He served for seven months in 1963. In the middle of the plaza on a raised, stone platform stand a large, skyscraper-like white sculpture, a bust of Bosch, and a Dominican flag. To the side stands book-shaped stone sign featuring quotes from Bosch about democracy and culture. In contrast, in the next plaza over, a simple column commemorates Naufragio de la Balandra Aurora the wreck of the sloop Aurora, meaning “dawn” not in Spanish but in Latin. The boat sank on September 27, 1908. Three crew members and five attempted rescuers died during the tragedy.
Fuerte San Gil
Little reminds of this Spanish fort, Fuerte San Gil. The patron saint of the fort, Giles the Hermit, was a somewhat odd choice, as he generally protected people with disabilities and fearful children. Like many of the oldest European structures on Hispaniola, this fort was built between 1503 and 1510 to defend Ciudad Colonial. In 1887, erosion and stormy weather caused the original fort to fall into the sea. The current fort is a historical replica maintained by Alcaldía Distrito Nacional [National District Mayoral Office].
Monumento a la Independencia Financiera y Parque Cervantes
In front of Fuerte San Gil is Monumento a la Independencia Financiera [Monument to Financial Independence], a bizarre sculpture called an “obelisco hembra” [female oblisk] by its architects, Joaquin Ortíz and Tomás Auñon Martínez. The monument commemorates the Dominican Republic paying off a nearly $10 million debt to the United States in 1947 after over forty years of payment. Across the highway was Parque Cervantes, dedicated to the famous Spanish author Miguel Cervantes, who wrote Don Quixote. While too dangerous to cross the road, the giant bust was still visible from the Malecón.
Obelisco de Santo Domingo
Also called “obelisco macho” [male oblisk], Obelisco de Santo Domingo is arguably the partner of nearby Monumento a la Independencia Financiera. This 40 meter (131 foot) sculpture was built in 1937, several years earlier than its counterpart, as part of a celebration changing the name of Santo Domingo to Ciudad Trujillo. Since 1996, local artists take turns decorating the originally all-white monument. The current artwork by Dustin Muñoz features the three Mirabal sisters, also known as “Las Mariposas” [the butterflies]. In 1960, supporters of the dictator assassinated the women for their political activism. Future artwork on the obelisk will continue to uplift Dominican heroes, especially those repressed during the Trujillo era.
This stretch of the Malecón is 1.2 kilometers (¾ mile) in length but can feel longer due to the number of stops and the weather. Walkers must pace themselves and bring plenty of water, as the temperature lingers around 95° Fahrenheit (35° Celsius) on most days. Fewer tourists come to this area, so expect less people than in Ciudad Colonial. The wide, paved pathways are mostly wheelchair accessible, although some spots need repair. If you enjoy exercise and need a break from the busier parts of the city, the Malecón is the perfect place to be.
Abby Epplett’s Rating System
Experience: 8/10
Accessibility: 6/10