Quick History Stops: Calles de Santo Domingo, Part 2
At last, I complete my twenty-three post series on my trip to the Dominican Republic in June 2023. This sequel to yesterday’s posts shares more quick history stops on the streets of the capital, Santo Domingo, including a college building turned into a hotel, ruins of a monastery, and a poetic park.
Monasterio de San Francisco
On the north side of Ciudad Colonial and bordered by four roads (Calle Restoración, Calle Hostos, Calle Juan Isidro Pérez, Calle Duarte) was Monasterio de San Francisco [Monastery of San Francisco]. With construction ordered by Frey Nicolás de Ovando in 1508 and lasting until 1560, the monastery was the first of its kind in the Americas. The building currently stands in ruins, much like the first European style hospital in the Americas, nearby Templo y Hospital San Nicolás de Bari. Near the ruins was a plaque dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Dominican Civil War of 1965, when the American military overthrew the supporters of democratically elected president Juan Bosch after rumors that he was a communist. The anniversary was on April 24, 2015.
Calle Padre Billini
The ChuChu Colonial rode down the eastern half of this road, but more history stops were on the western half. Named for Francisco Xavier Billini, an Italian, Dominican priest who dedicating his life to helping others, the street also includes Billini Hotel. In a city proud of its “firsts”, this is the “first luxurious avant-garde design hotel in the Colonial Zone” according to the English language version of the website. The hotel is in a building once belonging to Colegio Santo Tomás de Aquino. Also referred to as a university, Pope Paul III decreed the opening of the school in 1538, while Carlos I of Spain [Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire] certified the school twenty years later in 1558. The school was the first European university in the Americas and is now open on a different campus as Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo. The school was named after Tomás de Aquino [Saint Thomas Aquinas], a 13th century Italian, Dominican order priest and author.
Down the street was Iglesia y Convento de Regina Angelorum [Queen of Angels Church and Convent], the first home built specifically for Catholic nuns in the Americas. These nuns belonged to the Order of Saint Clare, also known as the Poor Clares. The building should not be confused for Iglesia y Convento de Santa Clara [Church and Convent of Saint Clare] located a quarter mile (450m) down the street and included on the ChuChu Colonial tour, which actually housed Franciscan nuns.
Another great stop on the street was Quinta Dominica, a small, free museum containing coats of arms and portraits of Spanish monarchs. The building was built in the early 16th century as a monastic cell. In 1538, the building became part of the campus of Colegio Santo Tomás de Aquino. After a renovation in 2004, the building became the current museum. My favorite discovery in the galleries was a portrait of Henry VIII, called Enrique VIII on the signage. His first wife, Catalina de Aragón y Castilla [Catherine of Aragon and Castile] was a Spanish princess, the daughter of Ferdinand I and Isabel II. The museum inspired me to learn more about heraldry, the complex and nearly overwhelming field of “reading” coats of arms.
Parque Rosado
On the southern end of Calle Isabel La Católica was Parque Rosado [Pink Park], a quiet garden with pink, concrete benches. The park was divided into two parts, each honoring a poet. Parque Alfredo Bautista Pellerano Castro highlighted the work of the late 19th century poet. He used the pseudonym Byron to write about daily life in the countryside. After his death in 1905, he was buried at nearby Iglesia Regina Angelorum. Parque Julia de Burgos honors the early 20th century Puerto Rican poet who advocated for the rights of women and Black Caribbeans.
