El Monumento de Santiago, Dominican Republic

“I Found the Interior to be just as Satisfying as the Coastal Beaches and Mainstream Activities.”

by Omar Guzman of VisitDominicanRepublic.com

This was my third time visiting the Dominican Republic, and although I spent the whole year daydreaming about soaking up the beautiful seascapes in the sun with my favorite banana-print beach shorts on, I really felt the need to switch it up this year and hit the Dominican metropolis of Santiago, less than an hour from Puerto Plata and 2 ½ hours from the Capital city of Santo Domingo.

I read online about the city of Santiago and how it’s actually the country’s 2^nd Capital city in the heartland region of the Dominican Republic called the Cibao [See-Bow], where much of the country’s agricultural products come from, so one of my Dominican buddies told me that I’ve got to visit the Monumento a los Heroes de la Restauracion (Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration) or “El Monumento”, Santiago’s most prominent and popular monument.

Getting to El Monumento

I took a Metro Tours bus (the most comfortable to me) from Santo Domingo and went through the provinces of Cotui and La Vega, until finally reaching Santiago, and let me tell you that El Monumento can easily be seen from a distance at about 175 meters above sea level.

Getting off at the bus station you’ll find taxis that will take you to the Monumento for $7 to $10 dollars, and depending on traffic, you’ll get there in 15 minutes.

As I walked up to the structure, I could immediately appreciate its size and the well-kept surrounding garden area, adorned with lovely bronze statues of famous baseball, folkloric, and cultural icons, most with plaques detailing their historical impact on Dominican society.

Visiting El Monumento

At its base, which is about like 5 stories high, El Monumento offers a breath of freshness from the heat with its towering marble columns and tall doorways with crystal stone lamps, where I purchased a ticket inside for $150 DOP (give or take), where there are more than a dozen wax figures of past presidents and revolutionary heroes, with large murals depicting the fight for independence from Haitian rule, ironically painted by a Spanish painter by the name of Vela Zanetti who was in exile due to the Spanish Civil War.

Taking the only elevator that fits 4 people at a time, I reached the fifth floor that has a spacious surrounding marble and stone terrace with the most awesome panoramic view of Santiago that you can find in my opinion, and with just a 10-peso coin I activated one of the available telescopes, getting a kick out of watching the tiny people and cars buzzing about the city.

From the fifth floor up is the visibly iconic obelisk that contains a spiral staircase of 365 steps that lead up to the statue of the “Angel of Peace” overlooking the city, which probably has more significance now knowing that El Monumento was constructed for the Dictator Trujillo, and then renamed after his fall from power commemorating the heroes who had won the independence, bringing true peace.

Around El Monumento

When night falls, the towering symbol comes alive with colorful red, blue, and white lights depending on the occasion, attracting the local “Santiagueros” (people of Santiago) who use the area as a rallying point for Fiestas (parties) and Musical events, and with plenty of nearby restaurants, food trucks, and street vendors, I had no problem getting a taste of the Dominican night life in an authentic Dominican city.

If your ever in the Dominican Republic with a thirst for history, architecture, and great cuisine, the Monumento in Santiago is definitely worth visiting.