Santiago de los Caballeros
Santiago de los Caballeros | |
|---|---|
| Central Santiago Area, Notice of a growing city Central Santiago Area, Notice of a growing city | |
 | |
| Country | Dominican Republic |
| Province | Santiago Province |
| Municipality | Santiago de los Caballeros |
| Founded | 1495 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (Síndico) | José Enrique Sued |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 750,000 (approx.) |
| Time zone | UTC-4 |
| Website | Portal del ciudadano |
Founded in 1495 during the first wave of European colonization of the New World, today Santiago de los Caballeros (the first "Santiago" of America) is the second most important city in the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola. Also known as Santiago de los 30 Caballeros. It is the capital of Santiago Province. The city served many times as the capital of the nation but not for long periods of time. Many wanted Santiago as the main city for its rich fertile lands and its central location.
History
The original colony was in the city of Jacagua, but when it was destroyed by an earthquake, it was moved to its present location in 1506. It was devastated by another earthquake in 1562. Santiago de los Caballeros has sometimes been the capital of the country, and was an important strategic city in the Dominican War of Independence in 1844.
On a hill overlooking Santiago is a Template:M to ft high marble monument. Construction of the monument began in 1944 on the orders of then-dictator Rafael Trujillo. He named it the "Monument of the Peace of Trujillo". Trujillo was assassinated in 1961, after which the monument was renamed the "Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration", in remembrance of the Independence Restoration War of 1863, in which the Dominican Republic regained its independence from Spain.
Growth and Development
Like Santo Domingo, Santiago has recently experienced an era of rapid growth and development. It has become a city of great importance for the nation and the region's development. Santiago like any other fast growing city is faced with numerous problems including precarious Electricity and Water infrastructure just to name a few. The approximate population of Santiago is in the range of 750,000 inhabitants, but with the undocumented Haitian immigrants the population could raise to over 1 Million inhabitants. The fastest growing community in the city of Santiago is La Trinitaria.
Geography
Santiago de los Caballeros is located on a hilly terrain in the middle of the Cibao Valley in the Central Region of the Dominican Republic, one of the most fertile lands found in the Republic. The Yaque del Norte river passes by Santiago which is in between Cordillera Central and Cordillera Oriental, two of the three major mountain ranges on the island of Hispaniola, forming the Cibao Valley.
Economy
Santiago is the Dominican Republic's second largest city. Santiago has a population of more than 750,000 inhabitants. Its most important economic activity is in the service sector, having one of the largest tax-free zone parks in the country. Santiago also has economical activity in the Agricultural Sector taking advantage of the rich fertile lands of the Cibao Valley.
Education
Santiago has a few universities including Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) and Universidad Tecnológica de SantiagoUTESA. It also has many private schools because public education is not very well developed in the Dominican Republic.
Sites of Interest
- Estadio Cibao
- Monumento de Santiago
- Centro Leon
- La Trinitaria
- Hotel Gran Cibao
- Hotel Gran Almirante
- Hotel Hodelpa Centro Plaza
- Colinas Mall
- Plaza Internacional
- Centro Español
- Country Club Santiago
Nightlife
Santiago has a blooming nightlife around the Monument area. Dozens of restaurants circle the center of the city making it an active nightlife area. bars, clubs, and the park surrounding the monument provide recreation and fun attracting crowds of the city's inhabitants and tourists as well. The central portion of the city has an extremely active nightlife which is considered by many to be the best nightlife in the country. The cibaeños have a love for merengue tipico which creates an entertaining and exciting atmosphere on a nightly basis.
Transportation:
- Carros Públicos: Santiago does not have an efficient form of transportation, there is however “Carros Públicos” and private and independent bus owners who form their own routes according to demands.
- Inter-City Bus Transportation: The city has private bus transportation to other important cities. Bus companies include Metro, Caribe Tours, Transporte Espinal, Aetra Bus.
- Highways: The Autopista (Highway) Duarte passes close to the city center of Santiago de los Caballeros.
- Airports: The Cibao International Airport serves mostly Dominicans living in the United States and other Caribbean islands like Cuba, Turks and Caicos Islands, Puerto Rico and Panama.
- Proposed Rail System: The construction of a light metro rail is in planning stages. It's scheduled to be started by August 2007. Financing is to be by a private firm, the State Rail System of Spain (FEVE).
New and planned projects
- HOMS: Hospital Metropolitano de Santiago – The HOMS is the largest hospital in Santiago and the most modern of the Dominican Republic. It will have two towers with fourteen floors each, one of them being for doctor's offices and the other for examination and observation rooms. Formal Inauguration is planned to August 16, 2007.
- Gran Cibao Hotel – It is the largest hotel in the Cibao region. It will have approximately 11 floors and it will enter into service shortly.
- Light Rail in Santiago – A Light Rail development in the city's metro area has been proposed. If completed it will be the second city In the nation to have a mass transit system and would be be e 5.5 km's longer than the Metro of Santo Domingo. The Light Rail will have 12 stops, its route will be from the Cemetery to the Airport. Construction is scheduled to begin in October 2007 and to be operating 14 months thereafter.
- Electric “Highway” from Santo Domingo – Santiago's power comes from Puerto Plata, but the government commenced the building of the Electric “Highway” that will feed Santiago electric energy from Santo Domingo's generators. construction started in February of 2007.
- Central Park of Santiago – The Central Park of Santiago is projected to be constructed on the land of the now defunct old Cibao International Airport that now lodges the regional seat of the National Police and the offices of the Association for Development.
The industrialists of Santiago have defended the project since it is considered to be a solution to the lack of green spaces suitable for relaxation in the city. Nevertheless it has been argued that the granting of contracts for the different phases from this project violate the frame of transparency and legality. In the Strategic Plan of Santiago it is indicated that the construction of the Metropolitan Park would increase the Santiagos green area from its currently 1.1% to 4%.
Sports
As much as the nation does, Santiago residents enjoy baseball and love to see the Dominican winter season with the local team being the Aguilas Cibaeñas. There are other sports played in the city as well but to a lesser extent.
Catedral de Santiago
The Cathedral of Santiago was built in 1495 when the city was founded and was the first church to be built. It is located in the Center of town and is constructed in a colonial style that attracts many tourist and locals alike.
Hermanos Patiño Bridge
The Hermanos Patiño Bridge is both the largest and oldest bridge in the city. Construction was started by Trujillo and inaugurated in 1962, one year after his death.
The Brothers Patiño Bridge is named after two brothers who died trying to put an end to Trujillos Tyranny.
Trivia
Despite the fact that Santiago is the second largest city in the Dominican Republic, the metropolitan area of New York City has a larger population of Dominicans.
External links
- Carnival Mask of Dominican Republic
- Pontifícia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra
- La Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago
- Centro Leon
- Santiago
Template:Capital of Dominican Province