Sto. Domingo
Historical Data
The 5 of December of 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered the island, that the Taino inhabitants commonly called
" Haiti " which means mountainous land.
We don't know whether the first occupants of the island of Santo Domingo already knew the Larimar and used it,
however we must keep in mind that the island had been a relatively tamed area for almost 4,000 years before
the first European discovered it 500 years ago. So it could well be that some of them had found the " blue stones "
in the beaches of Barahona or even at their beds.
After trying to establish colonies at the north coast is was finally decided to establish a first permanent settling
in the south coast: Santo Domingo. Since then the island was named " Santo Domingo " as long as the Spaniards
had it under their dominion and it become the first outpost of the Spanish empire.
In the Spanish chronicles of that era and in the letters of Columbus it had been informed that the
Tainos were a society that practiced extensively the agriculture and that some zones of the island were intensely cultivated.
The Spaniards did not occupy a virgin and primitive island, but all the opposite, an island whose spaces had been
subject to human intervention during a long period of time. And -who knows- also they found besides the gold, another
Dominican treasure: The Larimar.
 Christopher
Columbus and his brother Bartholomew were the first governors of the new colony followed by Francisco of Bobadilla,
who was named the principal judge and real commissioner for the Spanish crown in 1499. After putting Columbus
in prison and sending him to Spain -where Queen Isabela arranged his liberation, in 1503 Bobadilla was
substituted by Nicholas Obando, who assumed his position. During the governing of Obando began the development of
the island and for his successful reforms he received the title "Founder of the Spanish Empire in India".
Of this first epoch attest still many edifications and an visit to the museum of Larimar in the colonial city of
Santo Domingo will offer ample opportunity to enjoy a "Journey into the Colonial History of the Caribbean ".
At the beginning of the 17th century, the French, English and Dutch adventurers marauded the Caribbean
Sea accompanying the pirates which combated the Spanish empire. In a few years,
the occidental part of the island began to be full of hunting buccaneers.
Had they found the Larimar in their feats? The known chronicles don't speak of that. But it is quite possible.
Sure is that we today are able to enjoy this treasure which for millions of years was hidden,
waiting for its discovery.
In the Larimar Museum we show the facts and scientific explanations known about the Larimar or blue pectolite,
and of the only reported bed in the world, placed there by chance of nature here in the Dominican Republic.
To achieve that the knowledge results more permeable, we make use of modern museum techniques
supported by visual and tactile technologies that permit a better explanation of the mineral structure
of such a beautiful, rare and spectacular mineral jewel.
Interesting Virtual Adresses
Tourist Information
Art and Culture
Portals, Directories, Search Machines
|
