Cannons Mueo Casas Reales SD RD 02 2017 1982

The Museo de las Casas Reales (English: ''Museum of the Royal Houses'') is one of the important cultural monuments built during the colonial era in

Hispaniola Hispaniola (, also ; es, La Española; Latin and french: Hispaniola; ht, Ispayola; tnq, Ayiti or Quisqueya) is an island in the Caribbean that is part of the Greater Antilles. Hispaniola is the most populous island in the West Indies, and th ...

, now the Dominican Republic. It is located in the

Colonial district The Colonial District includes public schools in the Greater Richmond Region. Colonial District schools compete in the 5A, 4A, 3A, and 2A divisions. Facts about the district The Colonial District schools are located north and northwest of the Jame ...

of Santo Domingo. It was the Palace of the Viceroy of Santo Domingo and it is the first (oldest) headquarters of Spanish power in the New World. The building dates back to the sixteenth century, and was built to house the administrative offices of the Spanish colonies in the

Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...

, at the time any trespassers would be sentenced to death. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site called Colonial City of Santo Domingo.

History

The palace was built by orders of the

Spanish Crown , coatofarms = File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Spanish_Monarch.svg , coatofarms_article = Coat of arms of the King of Spain , image = Felipe_VI_in_2020_(cropped).jpg , incumbent = Felipe VI , incumbentsince = 19 Ju ...

, represented by King

Ferdinand II of Aragon Ferdinand II ( an, Ferrando; ca, Ferran; eu, Errando; it, Ferdinando; la, Ferdinandus; es, Fernando; 10 March 1452 – 23 January 1516), also called Ferdinand the Catholic (Spanish: ''el Católico''), was King of Aragon and Sardinia from ...

, on October 5 of 1511 to house the main government offices of the colony in two interconnected buildings (hence the plural Casas Reales). In the first (South) section was the Royal Audiencia, the first court of the New World, as well as the office of the

Comptroller A comptroller (pronounced either the same as ''controller'' or as ) is a management-level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization. A financial comptroller is a senior-level executi ...

General. The second (North) section was used by the successive Viceroys, Governors and Captains-General. The original architectural structure has undergone a number of changes through the country's history. In 1807, during the period of French sovereignty over the Eastern part of Hispaniola, French general Louis Ferrand gave the facade a classical architectural style. During the last year of government of President

Carlos Felipe Morales Carlos Felipe Morales Languasco (Puerto Plata, 23 August 1867 – Paris, 1 March 1914) was a Dominican priest, politician and military figure. Carlos Morales Languasco was born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic on August 23, 1868. He was t ...

, some changes were made to use the building as the Governmental Palace. The Presidency later moved to a mansion on the site of today's Palacio Nacional. During the government of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo other modifications were made in order to house government offices. Trujillo's office, and an extensive collection of arms and armor that he purchased, remain on display. The building was later restored to its original 16th-century appearance and was established on October 18, 1973, during the administration of President Joaquín Balaguer, as a museum to highlight the history, life and customs of the inhabitants of the Spanish colony. However, it was not officially opened until May 31, 1976. Attending the opening ceremony was King

Juan Carlos I Juan Carlos I (;, * ca, Joan Carles I, * gl, Xoán Carlos I, Juan Carlos Alfonso Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias, born 5 January 1938) is a member of the Spanish royal family who reigned as King of Spain from 22 Novem ...

of Spain. A self-guided tour giving a sequential history of the island includes a portable audio speaker that is available in various languages. It is currently one of the most visited sites in Santo Domingo.

Rooms

Santo Domingo - Museo de las Casas Reales 0253

* Comptroller-General * Legislation * Secretaries of the Audiencia * Office of the Chief Judge * Waiting Hall * Chamber of the Chief Judge * Vestibule of the Captain * Office of the Captain General * Family Life * Historical Ceramics * Military I * Military II * Great Hall of the Governors

Gallery

Courtyard

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Weapons and armor

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References

External links

Ministerio De EducaciónViajarHistoria Dominicana
{{Authority control Museums in the Dominican Republic Buildings and structures in Santo Domingo Tourist attractions in Santo Domingo Museums established in 1973 Ciudad Colonial (Santo Domingo) 1973 establishments in the Dominican Republic