Colonial buildings with wrought-iron details and colorful Victorian homes with gingerbread trim line the streets of this commercial hub of close to one million inhabitants.
The Dominican Republic's second largest city officially goes by the name of Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago of the Gentlemen) and dates from the 16th C. Santiago boasts
one of the finest universities in the country, the Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra and its factories manufacture rum and cigars.
Santiago is the birthplace of the Merengue, the Dominican Republic's national rhythm plus a great number of Dominican presidents.