Historical and geographical info

 

R. Dominicana. General Info

 

   

 

Capital:                     Santo Domingo de Guzman (04-08-1496, first establishment; 1502,

                                second establishment)

Population:                8.950.034 (July 2005). 16 % Europeans, 11% Africans and 73% mixed.

Government:              representative democracy, governed by a President and a Congress

                                 formed by Senate and the Chamber of Deputy.

Language:                  Spanish, with local dialects.

Religion:                     Catholic, however the Constitution grants the freedom of worship.

Sport:                         Baseball. Also cocks' fight is very popular.

Music:                         Merengue.

Change:                      The national currency is the peso dominicano (1 dollar= 30 pesos, but this is variable).

Telephone

international code:       001

 

 

 

Historical and geographical mentions

Before the Spanish''s arrival the islands were ruled by different native tribes coming from the forests of Rio Orinoco, in Venezuela, which passing from an isle to the other gained control of the whole archipelago. These tribes (Taina, Caribe, ecc.), mixing with one another gave birth to other races; for example, the Ciguayos or Macorijes. The Ciguayos were simple, peace and calmness loves without hatred or resentment. Wonderful examples of the Taina art can be admires in the Museo del Hombre Dominicano (Plaza de la Cultura) in Santo Domingo and also in the Museum of the foundation Garcia Arevalo (av. San Martin 279), and in Santiago del Los Caballeros, in the Centro Leon (av. 27 de Febrero 146, www.centroleon.org.do ).

The 12th October, 1492 the Genoese navigator Christopher Columbus, who had began his journey from Spain and after 70 days of sailing, disembarked on an island that he named San Salvador (one of the Bahamas islands). Not having found the riches he sought, he kept sailing and the 27th of October got off on the island of Cuba where he explored widely; then on the 5th of December 1492 he reached an island (called "Quisqueya" by the inhabitants) that seemed, from what he wrote on his diary, the most fertile among the ones he had seen up to then, with fields and plains of extraordinary beauty. Its landscapes resembled those of Castile and so it was given the name of HISPANIOLA (today Haiti and Rep.Dominicana).

The nature was luxuriant, the natives friendly (about 600.000 inhabitants) and seemed as if the subsoil was rich in gold.

At the moment of the Spanish's arrival the island was divided into five parts (cacicazgos) and its governors (caciques) ruled the natives, which was mostly of taina race but there were also ciguayos and caribes.

The Taino (which means "the good") were the first caribbean natives to make contact with the european conquistadores. Their culture, which constantly grew since the IX century, was abruptly erased in some years because of slaughters,  epidemic and wide exploitation and the Spanish invaders took their land in the name of a civilisation which never took place.

Using the remains of the Santa Maria, which had irreparably grounded, Columbus built in the Northern coast of the island (near the border between Haiti and R.Dominicana), not distant from a peak he had called Monte Christi the Fort of Nativity, leaving there 39 men under the protection of a nearby village chief. The peace, however, wasn't meant to last long. When the genoese navigatore went back to Hispaniola one year later, the Fort had been razed to the ground, his men killed and the natives had become wary. Colombus founded another colony more to the east, Isabella, leaving it in the hands of his brother Bartholomew who soon had to cope with the first rebellions; in 1496 he abandoned the place and moved on the southern coast of the island where he established the installation of Nueva Isabela (now Santo Domingo), on the left side of the Rio Ozama.

Here Columbus disembarked on the 20th August 1498 during his third journey and he found an newborn city (the official date is the 4th August of that same year) that already was meeting a rebellion.

Due to the disorders that kept upsetting the island, Columbus was replaced on his role of governor of the colony first by Francisco de Bobadilla and afterwards by Nicolàs de Ovando.

In 1502, together with Ovando's arrival, a typhoon destroyed the city and the fleet about to return to Castile. The unfortunate event made more than 500 victims (and among them is Bobadilla) and caused severe damage to the town itself which had to be completely rebuilt; Ovando decided to transfer it on the right side of the river Ozama, where it resides now.

The previous installments in Hispaniola had a rather "temporary" meaning. Ovando, however, wanted to build a proper town,with a thoughtful and rational urban plan: his represents the first example of the chessboard method, afterwards extended to all the hispano-american instalments.

But this is not the only record of Santo Domingo: in those years, in fact, the city became home to the first cathedral, first hospital, first monastery, of the first university, of the first trial court and of the first fortress of the New World. It's not possible, however, to talk of colonial architecture yet, as all these buildings were planned by Spanish masters who faithfully followed the models they had learned to know in their homeland.

The most imposing building is the cathedral, built in a late-gothic fashion between 1521 and 1541, when all over Europe the Renaissance was triumphing.  The chapels built in the following years were made in the new Renaissance fashion which made in right in time to leave a trace on the cathedral's front and which served as a model for the construction of all the churches of the Spanish colonies.

The earthquakes and the pirates' assaults, two common nightmares of the Spanish Caribbean, raged on the most important buildings of that time: the Dominican, Franciscan and Merced monasteries (the three religious orders mainly responsible for the conversion to Catholicism of the New World) and the Hospital of Nicolàs de Ovando, founded by the third governor of Hispaniola. The nowadays building was, in fact, built later in a Renaissaince fashion.

The most enigmatic building of all Santo Domingo is probably Columbus' house, which owes his name to Diego, firstborn of the genoese navigator. It is said that here died Bartholomew Columbus, foundator of the city. It's a 2-floor alace, with segmental arch balconies on the oriental and occidental side. Diego Columbus gave start to the construction in 1510, soon after his wedding with Maria di Toledo, nephew  of  Ferdinand the Catholic and also a relative of  the Duke of Alba.

 

At that time there still wasn't the threat of pirates' assults, who after 1515, starting from the near island of Tortuga attacked the ships coming from Mexico full of gold.

During the XVII century also the other european powerful countries - particularly France, Holland and England - started creating colonies in the nearby islands, widening their possessions in the Caribbean area which ceased to be a "Spanish sea". In 1697 also the occidental part of Hispaniola got under France's control and in 1904 converted into the Haiti Republic.

The 27th February of 1844 and after 22 years of Haitian dominance over the island, an underground rebellion group called "La Trinitaria" whose leader was Juan Pablo Duarte managed to regain control of the oriental part of the island, declaring its independance and naming it "Republica Dominicana", after the Order of the Dominican Monks.

Furious battles took place during the following years to defend themselves against Haiti, Spain (who regained power for a short period) and dominican people itself, until 1865 when the "restauraciòn" war began ("El dia de la Restauraciòn" is called such after this event).

In 1916 the United States' troops occupied the country until 1924 when the dominican government was democratically elected; but it was Rafael Leonidas Trujillo (who was chief of the military during USA's rule) who was chosen as president and he was a dictator until the 30th of May, 1961 when he was killed in an ambush.

After his death confusion ruled until 1965 when Lyndon B. Johnson  ordered the armed occupation of the country. In 1966 and after a false election Doct. Joaquin Balaguer of the PRSC (Social Christian Reformist Party) was elected president until 1978 when dominican people elected president Antonio Guzman. In 1986 Balaguer was elected again (this time legally) until 1996 when Leonel Fernandez (of the Partido de la Liberacion Dominicana, PLD) was appointed the charge; in 2000 was elected Hipolito Mejia and in 2004 Leonel Fernandez, again.

Santo Domingo de Guzman, with more than 500 years of history, became the most ancient city of the New World and combines the New World's modernity with the charisma of the old one and the passion of Latin America. This lively metropolis seduces visitors with its rich cultural past, an excellent gastronomy and a vibrant nocturn life. The city is modern and nearly all horizontal. With an extension of 40 square kilometers it enlarged until it converted into the bigger Caribbean city and one of America's biggest.

An important part of its cultural heritage is kept within the walls of the Colonial Area, near the river Ozama. An impressive collection of the XVI century's constructions, with imposing houses and stone churches which reflect Middle Age's last years. Unesco declared this Colonial Area World Heritage Site, acknowledging Santo Domingo as cradle of the New World's civilization. Some of its age-old buildings now are home to picturesque cafés, small hotels and important restaurants.

In the wide square sided by the Palace of Diego Colombo (the Alcazar), the Museum of "Las Casas Reales" and the sundial from the XVI century, the cafés and restaurants balconies get lively when evening approaches welcoming tourists and residents looking for intimacy and informality. From there the shiny lights of the monument of the Beacon of Columbus (where the remains of Christopher Columbus are kept) situated on the other side of the river Ozama can be observed.

Apart from its well-kept colonial past, the city exhibits an artistic and cultural vitality which is expressed very appropriately in the Plaza de la Cultura. This wide, green oasis in the heart of the city gathers four museums, the Library and the National Theater, stage for ballets, concerts, plays and operas of international value.

Many buildings reflect its cultural development and modernization. As examples we shall take the Botanic Garden, the Zoologic Park, the Aquarium, the Palacio of Bellas Artes, the Library of the Dominican Republic and the Beacon of Columbus. And let's not forget about the Mercato Modelo, main handcrafting centre.

 

To the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo covers a primal importance in politics, culture, commerce and all aspects of national life itself, as here concentrate about 3 millions of inhabitants (one third of its population) and it has the most important  harbours, the main international airport and the Government house.

Dominican Republic isn't only about tourist locations in the east or north, or in Santo Domingo's metropolis. South-west of the central mountain range which cuts in half the country there's a territory nearly unknown up to now, rich of surprises awaiting for the travellers: salted lakes and green hills, plains with cactus, iguanas and butterflies, peaceful beaches, streams forming refreshing, natural pools, islands were tortoises and swallows gather, a deep religiousness, the mysterious shadow of the haitian border and legendary traces of the native civilisation.

The organised excursions are rare, but it's possible to rent a car or a jeep and head out of the capital towards west for about one hundred kilometers, cross the desert after Azua and pass the fields and coasts of the imaginative and peaceful south, away from fashion and mundanity.

Thus can be discovered the landscape of  orchards, herds and rice fields of the valley of San Juan de la Maguana, where the 3175 meters of the Pico Duante (highest peak of the Antillas) can be fully appreciated.

In this area, in 1908, an illiterate labourer disappeared during a terrible storm and came back when everybody had thought him dead already, stating that an angel on a white horse had taken him in the skies to receive a divine mission.  Father Liborio founded then a new religious movement, and dedicated his life to healing ill persons and making propechies; he predicted the passing of the Halley comet in 1910, the earthquake of 1911 and the civil war of 1912. In 1916 United States invaded the island and Liborio became the symbol of the resistance. He lived as a fugitive among the mountains with his men, fighting with the police, until he died in combat in 1922 at Hoyo del Infierno, where his followers still are looking for a rock which is said to possess unearthly powers, because who will lift it will obtain eternal joy.

The Liborists still believe that their labourer messiah will return and keep building worshipping places and pilgriming to La Aguita de Liborio.

Following the river Yague del Sur, crossing palms forests, you will get to the Neiba valley and will soon glimpse the Enriquillo lake, the biggest of the West Indies (slightly more than the Mayor Lake). On its coast can be seen native sculptures, Las caritas.  Close to those there's La Azufrada, a pool of sulphur-rich, curative water. From there depart the boats of the keepers of the Cabritos island, stronghold of the cacicco Guarocuya, educated by the Spanish people and baptised as Enriquillo. In his story legend and true history melt together.

It is told that in 1503 the governor Nicolas de Ovando, during a feast prepared for him be the Taino, gave the order to slaughter all the natives. A kid managed to survive; his name was Guarocuya, and we was then raised by Franciscan monks and baptised as Enriquillo. Christian and well-educated, Enriquillo was put in jail because he refused to serve the white. He couldn't stand the continuous abuses of the Spanish and in 1519 guided the Taino rebellion, keeping in check from 1519 to 1532 the emperor Charles V.  Then, in 1532, the emperor asked for peace and Enriquillo met him in Santo Domingo and lived a controlled independency.

A large number of american crocodiles lay their eggs on the pink beaches of this island, made up of tiny seashells. But the area of Enriquillo lake is also a paradise for all kinds of birds: white heron, owls,  humming birds and flocks of magnificent flamingos.

The ideal place where to stop is La Descubierta, with its icy, shaded thermal pool. Shortly afterwards you can reach Jimani, where the border can be crossed on foot to give a look to the haitian fair of Malpasse. Along the road are checkpoints, but the soldiers are friendly. Near Cabral there is a wide lake, called Laguna Rincòn, which hosts, among water lilies, ducks and cormorants, a colony of jicotea, a particular race of tortoise. From there you can easily reach the city of Barahona. It's the homeland of the larimar, a semi-precious stone with an enchanting azure shade, which serves to create beautiful jewels.

More to the south there's the welcoming center of the Jaragua National Park, with the imbarcadero of the salty lagoon of Oviedo (full of mangroves and waders). Among volcanic rocks you will find natural pools, called "Water eyes" surrounded by blossoming orchids and begonias. But the vegetation is mostly made of cactus of various, strange forms. It's iguanas' perfect habitat.

In the south frontier is situated Pedemales, which is separated from Haiti by a simple small river. Nearby, there's a road which if followed in the direction of the abandoned mines of Aecitillar, will take through the Baoruco park and, after the humid vegetation, a path will lead to a panoramic site from where the valley of Hoyo del Pelempito can be admired. Among the pines dwell several local birds. If you instead follow the road towards the sea you will get to the harbour of Cabo Rojo and then at the village of La Cueva, access point to the untouched sand arc of the Baia de las Aguilas, to which you can get with the fishermen's boats. The inaccessible beaches afterwards are home to four tortoise species. It's no surprise that the axis Enriquillo-Baoruco-Jaragua, protected by Unesco, has the highest biodevirsity rate of all Caribbean.

Travelling along the island streets you can glimpse the genuine dominican nature, peaceful and rural: wood houses with flashy colours, always having a terrace or a chair facing the street, goats and chickens around among the hung-out landry, the motorcycles' noise mixed to the horses' one and th e untiring rhythm of merengue; the custom of  cocks' fights and the emporiums selling a bit of everything.

Fairs abund of charms, herbal teas and miraculous soaps, luck pictures and prayers for every occasion. And in the countryside any form of belief around vudù blossoms (as for example the belief in bacà, a devil in animal's form which can give you success, but at a high cost). There are also stories about spirits of native lovers who move objects during nighttime and scare away the  herds until they can't get reunited with their lovers in the waters of an enchanted spring. When in the southern part of the island listening to such stories isn't difficult at all, maybe while holding a rhum glass with guayaba sweets.

Cabrera, geographical and historical info

Most of this is from the book "CABRERA,PARAISO DEL NORDESTE" (18/09/1987) of the professor ANA LUISA CABRAL TAVERAS.

When Spanish arrived in 1492 the island was divided into five areas, called cacicazgos, and each governor (caciques) commanded the native population. The cacicazgo of Magu, where the most important cacique of the island (called Guarionex) ruled, contained within its boundaries the regions called "Macorix de arriba", today Puerto Plata and the north-east coast, and the "Macorix de abajo", today San Francisco de Macoris, Nagua, Fantino and other areas. The inhabitants of those two "Macorix" (who were either ciguayos or macorijes) were commanded by the cacique Mayobanex, who died victim of the Spanish invaders because he wouldn't give them their cacique Guarionex, who had fled and hid within his territory in exchange for an alliance.

In the Cabrera are and nearby were carried out several archaelogical excavations which brought up many burials that most likely are of taina or ciguaya origins. In Abreu many were found near the "cabo Frances Viejo", inside a cave that the archaelogists called Elizabeth, where they found china representing a priest while putting two fingers inside his mouth to cause vomit, as in the ritual of "cohoba" they had to have the stomach empty; and then they found a second burial of several children and adults, whose long bones had been cut, burnt and shredded, and as the other bones were intact this arose suspect of cannibalism, or the existence of some sort of complex ritual. Together with the bones pieces of red and black china were found, bearing characteristics from other populations of the Guadalupe and Martinica islands. The discovery of many shellfishes' remnants suggests that these populations were "gatherers" and more generally advanced farmers. Some say that the place called "La Cruz" was born because of the discovery of many skeletons and hundreds of native objects that demonstrated that those were native remains. The foundators of La Cruz took these remains and the objects and they buried them beside a big stone near to a cave, putting a big cross at the entry to make all understand that there were resting human souls. This place became a site for prayers and meditation for the inhabitants of the area, where thousands worship the sacred cross. Along the farallon de Cabrera still exist caves and wells not yet explored.

The province of Maria Trinidad Sanchez is situated on the border of Bahia Escocesa or Cosbek on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and extends from Cabo Jackson, which divides it from Samanà, to rio San Juan which separates it from the Spaillat province and contains the areas of Nagua, Cabrera, Rio San Juan and the populations of San Jose de Villa o Matancitas, El Pozo, Payita and La Entrada.

The first inhabitants of Cabrera, which at that time was called "Tres Amarras", arrived at the beginning of the XIX century and came from the nearby cities, but there was also some foreigner among them and some italian as well: Francesco and Carmen Falette. The first houses were built on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and on the two sides of the river Tio Marcos. The village grew rapidly and on the 1st of June, 1891 became a Canton with the name of Cabrera (after the general Jose Cabrera, hero of the "Restauracion Nacional"). With the changes applied to the constitution in 1907 Cabrera became Province of Cabrera in the newly created district ("Distrito Pacificador").

 

 

Origin and legend of the name Tres Amarras, El Bréton and Cabo Frances Viejo

All starts with a two-centuries-old legend, which talks about a beautiful French ship, the Bréton, that was surprised by a storm while sailing not far from the coasts. The captain, an old and expert French sailman, after fighting against the raging waves tried to make his way to the Bahia de Teten decided to near one of the reefs, and then threw the three moorings (Tres amarras) to hold the ship steady. But the  storm wouldn't stop growing its intensity and he was forced to free the moorings and make the crew get down of the ship. El Bréton sank with its captain that night, crashing on the rocky reef and its remains lie now on the bottom of the beach now called Playa del Navio. The old captain called the reef where he crashed onto with his ship Cabo Frances Viejo.

 

From Cabo Frances Viejo, the whole Ocean's beauty can be fully admired.

In 1974 was created the "Zona Reservada o Parque Nacional Cabo Frances Viejo", which comprised also the nearby playa El Bréton, to preserve this places of incredible beauty and protect their nature in order for everyone to be able to admire it. In this area any construction or cutting of trees is strictly forbidden, as to keep nature, animals and plants whole and preserve the characteristics of this subtropical"humid forest".

The province of Cabrera belongs to the district of Maria Trinidad Sanchez and its population, according to a 2002 census it counts 26.655 inhabitants. It's situated on the northeas coast of the country, one hour and a half distant from Santo Domingo and both at north and east, it borders with the Atlantic Ocean; on the south it borders with the privince of Nagua and on the west with Rio San Juan. Its shoreline is irregular and here you will find the most beautiful beaches, many of which enriched by rivers or springs (that supply soft water) as playa El Diamante, Arroyo Salado, Caléton Grande, playa El Bréton, La Preciosa, Laguna El DuDù, Playa Grande and others.

It's situated east of Puerto Plata and west of Samanà, only at 36 km from Nagua. Its geographical coordinates are 19°36' north and 69°53' west.

Cabrera has many natural beauties maybe for the fact that it's situated on the Cabrera promontory, on the northern mountain range, which forms natural "terraces" that in some points can reach a height of 400m on sea level.

The province of Cabrera is crossed by the farallones of the northern mountain range. Its soil is very fertile and both farming and herding is common. The most important products are peanuts, rice and fruits.

The 4th August of 1946, Sunday, at one in the afternoon, the northeast coast was hit by a tremenous earthquake and a following wave from the sea, caused by a rift in the "Milwaukee's pit" which is situated right in front of the Dominican coasts. Of all areas hit, the province of Maria Trinidad Sanchez was the one suffering most from this event, because of what nowadays is called Tsunami, the withdrawal of water from the coasts and their following return with tremendously high waves which devastated the land and killed many persons. The exact number of victims is up to now unknown, as in that period the dictator Trujillo was in charge and he wouldn't let out any information about any event; we know, however, that the village of Matanzas was completely grounded. Four days after the earth would still shake and population was living in fear. Some days later, there was a "star shower" on the sky, making many think that the world was going to end.

In 1947 in Cabrera was opened the first electricity central and in 1952, the first waterwork was built.

 

The Stone Virgin ("La Virgin de Piedra")

It is said that in the Entrada area there are different caves which were inhabited by natives and Spanish from the colony, because inside them were found several objects from both cultures (china and kitchen tools from the Spanish). These caves really seemed like houses, some divided into different "rooms" and also had a place where to bath children. Here is found the "Virgen de Piedra". Witnesses say that one day the Cabrera population bought an image of the Virgin Mary and gave it to mr Adolfo Torres, who had a small chapel in Arroyo Salado. He took the statue and started a procession, but he was surprised by a rainfall which forced him to enter into one of these caves in order to protect the sacred image, and he put it on a stone resembling an altar. Once the rain had stopped they continued on, but on the place where they had put the image another one started appearing. The image was painted. The painter, to gain some exposure, made some carvings on the shape itself, one of which forms a "cup" (on the back side) which is always full with water, which is believed to be miraculous. The cave was blessed as a holy place and every 13th of May there is worshipped the Virgin Mary and from all the nation arrive persons to thank for miracles.

 

The DUNDUN legend

Like this was named a mysterious and fantastic character which appeared at the beginnin of the XX century (about 1910). Story tells that DUNDUN persecuted a girl named Rosita... this person terrorised the entire population, until one day Rosita received from DUNDUN a letter telling her that in order for her to be free from this persecution, she should have married the man that he would decide for her: Rosita, desperate, accepted and DUNDUN mysteriously disappeared. Until 1972, when he reappeared in the house of mr Nicolas Cuevas. One afternoon, after a series of weird events happened, his wife dreamed that someone told her "Make all these persons go away from your house, or else I shall burn it down and kill one of your sons.". The day after, the mattresses caught fire one after the other and there were traces of fuel in each room. The woman, horrified, begged her guests to leave the house and so DUNDUN, again disappeared... but the mistery remained!