Museo de Las Casas Reales - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Posted by: 
Torgut
N 18° 28.552 W 069° 52.980
19Q E 406774 N 2043062
The building hosting this museum was used as court by the Spanish in the 16th Century, being one of the oldest buildings in Dominican Republic and in the Americas.
Waymark Code: WM15QPD
Location: Dominican Republic
Date Posted: 02/11/2022
Views: 1
Perhaps the most impressive thing of this museum is the building itself. Apart from that, there is an assorted collection of historical artefacts and furnitured rooms.
Most of its collection dates from colonial times but there is also an exhibit dedicated to the independence and even some recent objects, like weapons which belonged to the dictator Trujillo.
It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site classification attributed to the historical center of Santo Domingo.
From Wikipedia:
(
visit link)
"The palace was built by orders of the Spanish Crown, represented by King Ferdinand II of Aragon, 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 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, 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 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."