Santo Domingo, spreading from the west bank of the Ozamo River to southern coast, is the capital of the Dominican Republic and one of the Caribbean's oldest cities. ‘La Capital’, as it is fondly known by locals, is centred around the Zona Colonial - the city’s cobblestoned historic core. Buildings dating back as far as the 1500s are interspersed with charming cafes, bars, and restaurants. It is here that visitors will find the city’s impressive display of colonial-era architecture including the first built cathedral in the New World, as well as the oldest surviving European fortress in the Western Hemisphere. The city's waterfront area is lapped by the warm turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea and attracts tourists with its luxurious casinos, palm-lined boulevards, and stately monuments. Don’t miss the Alcázar de Colón palace to see extraordinary medieval and Renaissance art.