Santo Domingo is not only the name of the Dominican capital — it was once the name of the entire island. Today the city is the largest metropolis in the Caribbean, with a population of a little over three million. It is also a distinctly modern one: high-rise buildings, two metro lines, and even a funicular and a monorail.
Like many capitals, Santo Domingo does not belong to any province and forms its own administrative district. It is often said to be the first European city in the New World, but that is only partly true. It is indeed the oldest surviving city in the New World — yet the first city Christopher Columbus founded in this part of the world was called La Isabela, and it was destroyed entirely by the island’s indigenous population. The Dominican capital, incidentally, was originally called Nueva Isabela and changed its name three times over the course of its history.
Saint Dominic or Holy Sunday?
Saint Dominic (Domingo de Guzmán Garcés) is considered the city’s patron, and the official version holds that the city is named after him — Santo Domingo de Guzmán. His name also gave rise to the Dominican Order of Preachers, who, it is worth noting, argued for the rights of the indigenous people and for their recognition as equals to Europeans.
Some guides insist instead that the city is named after the day it was founded, a Sunday — and Santo Domingo does translate from Spanish as “Holy Sunday”. The historical record, though, puts the founding on a Friday.
The city’s coat of arms
Santo Domingo’s coat of arms shows a golden crown, two golden lions and a blue key on a red shield, set against a black-and-white cross. The red field stands for the victory in which the city was born. The golden crown, beyond its royal reference, signifies dignity, while gold itself stands for wealth, wisdom and nobility. The lions carry the symbolism of sovereignty, dominion and vigour. The black-and-white cross points back to Catholicism — and to the city’s own name.
