Overview:

Iglesia San Roque is a historic church located in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It is built in the Spanish Colonial style, featuring white walls, a large ornate doorway, a grand central dome and two bell towers. It was constructed in 1731 and is one of the oldest churches in the city. The church is associated with the Dominican Order, and has retained its original style over the centuries. The church is a popular destination for tourists visiting Santo Domingo, and is a designated historic landmark by the Urban Historic Centre of Santo Domingo. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Dominican-Republic
Prominent Features:

1. Stunning Baroque-style architecture 2. Grand facade with large doors 3. Beautiful interior decorated with oil paintings 4. Large altar flanked by four striking sculptures 5. Imposing three-tier cupola and columns 6. Magnificent interior paintings on the ceiling 7. Richly decorated chapels with various altars 8. Small museum housing artifacts from colonial times 9. Gardens and courtyards with exotic plants and trees 10. Stained glass windows with wonderful hues This national monument of Dominican-Republic portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

The Church of San Roque, located in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, is the oldest church in the country. The church was built in 1540 by the Dominicans as part of a convent attached to the Dominican College of San Tomás de Aquino. The church was originally dedicated to Santa María la Antigua, but it was later given the name of San Roque (Saint Roch) due to its proximity to the cemetery of the same name. The Church of San Roque suffered major damage during the Haitian Revolution in 1805 when the rebels destroyed many buildings in the Colonial Zone, leaving the church in ruins. It was not until 1901 that the reconstruction of the church began, and it was finally reopened in 1905. The reopening of the church was attended by a great multitude of people, including the President of the Dominican Republic at the time, Horacio Vásquez. The renovation was designed by the Dominican architect Guillermo González. He sought to respect the original characteristics of the building, such as the white façades, the Baroque style, and the decorations used in the past. Today, the Church of San Roque retains its white façades and Baroque style, while the interior presents a strong exponent of the Renaissance style. Inside, visitors can admire the beautiful paintings and sculptures that adorn the walls of the church, as well as its original altarpiece and pulpit. The church is still an important cultural landmark in Santo Domingo, and continues to serve as a place of worship for local Catholics. You must visit one of these historical places in Dominican-Republic on your Dominican-Republic tour

Interesting facts:

1. Iglesia San Roque is a baroque-style Catholic church located in the city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. 2. It is the first shrine of the Holy Rosary in the Americas, founded in 1606 by Spanish friar Diego de Ovando. 3. The current building, designed by Dominican designer Antonio Gaspar Polanco, was completed in 1782 and is the oldest standing structure in Santo Domingo. 4. The facade of Iglesia San Roque is decorated with marble, jasper, Italian window frames, and a single wood-carved portal. 5. The church was originally built with two towers on either side of the entrance, but both were destroyed by an earthquake in 1946. 6. The original altar was also destroyed in the earthquake, but it was rebuilt in the 19th century. 7. Inside the church, visitors can see the late 17th-century murals depicting the life of St. Philip Neri, an Italian saint. 8. The original entrance stood in the center of the front facade of the church. 9. In 1912, the entrance was moved from the center to its current position on the right side of the building. 10. Iglesia San Roque is a popular attraction among those who come to Santo Domingo, as it is considered to be one of the most beautiful churches in the Caribbean. Visit one of the famous monuments of Dominican-Republic with your friends and family.