The beautiful island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean is where the Dominican Republic can be found, and it is one of the most diverse areas of the world. Visitors will find themselves torn between exploring the mountainous regions or simply relaxing on one of the spectacular beaches. Of course, no one will want to forget about the extraordinary architecture that can be found there either.
Here are the top 4 fantastic attractions and museums in the Dominican Republic:
1. Alc‡zar de Col—n
This is one of the most popular museums within the Dominican Republic, but when it was first constructed in 1512, it was the palace home of Christopher ColumbusÕs son, Diego. Inside the museum, visitors can see musical instruments, furniture, art, and weapons from the 16th century. There are spiral staircases that go directly to the bedrooms and the crystal chandelier is still in place within the reception hall.
2. Choco Museo
The Choco Museo, or Chocolate Museum, can be found in Punta Cana and travelers can take a tour of both the museum and factory. Everyone that becomes fascinated as the cacao beans are transformed into delectable treats may want to consider participating in the workshop where they can make their own. Every person that takes one of the tours will be able to sample the delicious chocolate before they leave, and they will be able to purchase quite a few goodies to take home.
3. The Columbus Lighthouse
This lighthouse can be found at the beach near Santo Domingo and the ten-story building is considered to be the cultural center of the island as well as a major tourist attraction. Everyone will want to visit this lighthouse at night when a massive lit up cross is projected up towards the sky. Some people believe that Christopher ColumbusÕs remains are inside the chapel at the lighthouse, but others believe that he is buried somewhere in Spain.
4. Hoyo Azul Punta Cana
There is plenty of water for visitors to swim in when they are vacationing in the Dominican Republic, but no one will be able to resist the shimmering and sparkling water at Hoyo Azul Punta Cana. This destination is actually a natural sinkhole that was naturally filled with crystal clear water and it can be found at the bottom of a cliff. Everyone will need to walk through the rainforest until they reach the stairs that lead down into the cave and to the pool where they can swim for hours.
There is so much for people to do when they arrive in the Dominican Republic, but the above four attractions and museums need to be at the top of their list.
