Culture of the Dominican Republic Mercedes is an Olympic silver medalist, and judo. The architecture in the Dominican Republic represents a complex blend of diverse cultures. The deep influence of the European colonists is the most evident throughout the country. Characterized by ornate designs and baroque structures, the style can best be seen in the capital city of Santo Domingo, which is home to the first cathedral, castle, monastery, and fortress in all of the Americas, located in the city's Colonial Zone, an area declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The designs carry over into the villas and buildings throughout the country. It
Spanish occupation of the Dominican Republic Spanish occupation of the Dominican Republic In 1861, Dominican general Pedro Santana suggested retaking control of the Dominican Republic to queen Isabella II of Spain, after a period of 17 years of Dominican sovereignty. Newly independent Dominican Republic was economically recovering from the recently ended Dominican War of Independence (1844–1856), when the Republic won its independence against Haiti. Spanish crown and authorities, which scorned and rejected the peace treaties signed after the dismantling of some of its colonies in the Spanish West Indies some 50 years prior, welcomed his proposal and set to reestablish the colony. The end of the