One of the loveliest churches in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Convent and Church is now open to the public. Recently restored, visits to the 1510 convent and church that housed the first university in the New World have been made easier with the introduction of AudioGuide technology. It is now possible to visit the church and really understand what makes it so special. The Convento de los Dominicos is located at the corner of Padre Billini and Calle Duarte in the Colonial City. It is most famous for being the site where Father Montesinos made the famous first human rights call in the New World, in his sermon to the Spanish residents of the Colonial City denouncing abuses against the indigenous population. The church also has a chapel with unique drawings depicting astrological signs, Greek mythological figures and even the Inca sun god, an unusual departure from Catholic traditions. The audio-guided tours are available in English, Spanish, Russian, French and German. The convent and church is open from 8:30am to noon, and from 3pm to 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Inside, there are exhibits of key events related to the convent serving as the site of the first university in the New World. The fee for the audio-guides is RD$150 tourists, RD$100 locals and RD$40 children. The explanations last 30 minutes. Tel 809 682-3780.