The Dominican authorities are coordinating events leading to the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the city of Santo Domingo. Historians have agreed that the municipality was officially founded on 5 August 1498, while the first houses were erected beforehand in 1496. The program of activities will be held from 1 to 10 August. Participating are the Asociación de Comerciantes de la Calle El Conde and the Cámara de Comercio y Producción del Distrito Nacional which are holding Expo-Conde 96 from 10 am on Thursday, 1 August. Several musical events will be held in the squares of the Colonial City from 5:30 pm on the same day.
At 8 pm, also on the 1 August, Archbishop Manuel Salvador Gautier will speak on the Foundation of the City of Santo Domingo at the gardens of the Alcazar de Colón. The event is organized by the Oficina de Patrimonio Cultural.
On Friday, 2 August, at 8 pm, an artistic event with groups from the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU) will be held at Columbus Square, organized by the Patronato de la Ciudad Colonial.
On Saturday, 3 August, at 6 pm., a musical group from Ecuador, “Viñay,” will perform at the Parque Colón and at 8 pm, in the same place, there will be a performance by a group from the Dominican Telephone Company.
On Sunday, 4 August at 9:30 am, there will be a walk through the old city organized by the Comité Dominicano del Icomos.
On Monday, 5 August, at 8:30 pm, architects César Iván Feris Iglesias and Glauco Castellanos will speak on “Visión General de las Artes Italianas durante el Renacimiento.”
The city of Santo Domingo was founded on 5 August 1498 by Adelantado Don Bartolomé Colón, on the eastern bank of the Ozama River.