The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Great Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares with Haiti, making Hispaniola one of only two Caribbean islands, along with Saint Martin , that are shared by two sovereign states. The Dominican Republic is the second-largest nation in the Antilles by area (after Cuba ) at 48,671 square kilometers (18,792 sq mi), and third-largest by population, with approximately 10.8 million people (2020 est.), of whom approximately 3.3 million live in the metropolitan area of Santo Domingo, the capital city. The official language of the country is Spanish.
Holidays in the Dominican Republic, or the DR as it’s often known, start with a choice between the sun-kissed beaches on the country’s Atlantic or Caribbean coasts. You’ll find both isolated bays and luxurious resorts, while inland waterfalls plunge from forested peaks and rural life carries on much as it has for centuries. The capital, Santo Domingo, is one of the Caribbean’s oldest cities.
The architecture in the Dominican Republic represents a complex blend of diverse cultures. The deep influence of the European colonists is the most evident throughout the country. Characterized by ornate designs and baroque structures, the style can best be seen in the capital city of Santo Domingo, which is home to the first cathedral, castle, monastery, and fortress in all of the Americas, located in the city’s Colonial Zone, an area declared as a World Heritage World Heritage Site by UNESCO .The designs carry over into the villas and buildings throughout the country. It can also be observed on buildings that contain stucco exteriors, arched doors and windows, and red tiled roofs.
Dominican cuisine is predominantly Spanish, Taíno, and African. The typical cuisine is quite similar to what can be found in other Latin American countries. One breakfast dish consists of eggs and mangú (mashed, boiled plantain). Heartier versions of mangú are accompanied by deep-fried meat (Dominican salami, typically), cheese, or both. Lunch, generally the largest and most important meal of the day, usually consists of rice, meat, beans, and salad. “La Bandera” (literally “The Flag”) is the most popular lunch dish; it consists of meat and red beans on white rice. Sancocho is a stew often made with seven varieties of meat.