CATEDRAL DE SANTA MARÍA LA MENOR
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Santo Domingo was founded in 1496 by Bartholomew Columbus, brother of Christopher Columbus, as the capital of the first Spanish colony in the New World. The original city site was located on the left (east) bank of the Ozama River and was called Nueva Isabela in honour of Queen Isabella I of Spain but that was destroyed by a hurricane.
The city was then rebuilt in 1502 at its present location on the right bank of the river and it became the starting point of most of the Spanish expeditions of exploration and conquest of the Americas.
The colony prospered as the seat of government of the Spanish possessions in the Americas until the conquest of Mexico and Peru, after which its importance declined.
To see more pictures of the Cathedral, click here.
In my anguish... 