The International Bureau of Cultural Capitals has announced that 27 sites in Santo Domingo have been pre-selected for an open vote on the seven treasures of tangible heritage. Anyone in the world can vote to help choose the candidates.
The proposed candidates include several in the Colonial City. These are Columbus Palace (Alcazar), El Conde and Las Damas streets, the house of Juan Pablo Duarte, Casa de Tostado, the Cathedral, Ozama Fort, the Nicolas de Bari Hospital ruins, the Hostal Nicolas de Ovando, the Dominicans Convent Church, the San Francisco Ruins, Museum of Casas Reales, Independence Park, City Government Palace (Palacio Consistorial), National Pantheon, the colonial sewage system, the Atarazanas, the urn where the remains of Columbus are deposited, the Ceiba de Colon, the Altar to the Founding Fathers.
Outside of the Colonial City, considered as a candidate to being a “treasure” are: Chinatown, the Columbus Lighthouse, Botanical Gardens, the 3 Eyes Park, and the Malecon.
A vote will be open to the general public at www.cac-acc.org from 3 to 23 May 2010.
The campaign is part of ongoing events for the celebration of Santo Domingo, American Cultural Capital 2010.
The contest seeks to promote and create an awareness of the city’s tangible cultural heritage by promoting citizen participation.