Santo Domingo

Founded in 1496 by Bartolomé Colón, Santo Domingo is the oldest permanent European settlement in the Americas and home to the continent's first cathedral and first castle, both within the UNESCO-listed Ciudad Colonial. The Dominican Republic's capital sits on the Caribbean coast at the mouth of the Río Ozama, with a walkable historic centre dense with churches, cafés, and restaurants. Named American Capital of Culture in 2010, it hosted the Pan American Games in 2003 and remains the country's largest city and main port.

• Population2,201,941
• Nearest water from center1.1 km
• Nearest mountain from center5.3 km
• UNESCO within 50 km1