Historic Religious Sites

The Dominican Republic holds a significant place in colonial history as the site of the first Christian institutions in the New World. This collection features the Basilica Cathedral of Santa María la Menor, the oldest cathedral in the Americas, and the Iglesia y Convento Dominico, which once housed the first university in the Western Hemisphere. Modern architectural highlights include the massive concrete arches of the Basílica de la Altagracia and the Byzantine-influenced Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción, showcasing a transition from 16th-century Gothic styles to contemporary religious design.