Alcázar de Colón

The Alcázar de Colón is one to 1514 in Santo Domingo erbauter under Diego Colón of 1510 Palace of the then Viceroy. Here was the seat of Spanish colonial government in the New World for six decades. Today it houses the viceregal museum.

Classification

It is a historic building in the old town of Santo Domingo. It is the capital of the Dominican Republic and the oldest colonial city in the Americas. It was the third attempt of Christopher Columbus, to establish a settlement. However, the house itself is younger. It was built by his son, Diego Colon / Diego Columbus 1510-1514. It was at this time as a Spanish viceroy of the highest ranking Spanish officials in the new world. The original building is temporarily forfeited. In the 19th century it was stylized in the wake of nationalism as a national monument and a historical monument. In the 1950s, it was renovated and set in the present-day state. Since 1990, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the old town of Santo Domingo.

Style

The building was built during the Renaissance. Due to its special location and history, it is assigned to the Spanish colonial style. The house has a flat roof. In order for the roof as a design element of the facade is missing as well as the Towers of any kind Maybe that's why, perhaps due to the small size in relation to the forecourt, it seems modest and unassuming.

The facade consists of a central portion which is formed by two superimposed arcades. Each of 5 columns support the roof (or the overlying floor). There is an almost jewelry and windowless wall on both sides of these arcades. The unadorned facade parts taken together are almost as large as the arcades. Typical elements of Baroque and Gothic not determine the overall impression.

Exhibition

The building contains an exhibition. It is aimed at the interested layman and tries to give a sense of how it might have looked like there 1510-1549. To this end, the visitor is guided in a tour of 22 different rooms. Unlike many other museums, no objects are presented here, which is demonstrably related to the object of the exhibition in direct connection. The exhibits have been probably never been there. You instead have the function to convey a stylish impression. This can certainly be regarded as successful. Strictly speaking, there is the conception of history and the aesthetic ideas of the early 1960s again. It is viewed from the Dominican Republic as a National Treasure.

Historical classification

The first two settlement attempts by the Spaniards in the New World have failed. The third attempt on August 4, 1496 succeeded. The settlement was called Nueva Isabella. It is around the present Santo Domingo. Its founder, Christopher Columbus, has not lived there. His family was still living in Europe. In 1509, his son Diego Columbus sailed to Santo Domingo and had built this house. He lived here with his wife and his children. In 1524 he was recalled to Spain. After his death, his wife has come back and has lived in the house for a long time. This time is dedicated to the exhibition. The importance of this time for this house in particular and for Santo Domingo and the Dominican Republic in general is among other things, that the island has lost its economic and political importance for Spain after a very short flowering period.