Santiago de los Caballeros

Santiago de los Caballeros is a regional capital in the Cibao Valley in the northern Dominican Republic, stretching along the Yaque del Norte River. The city sits at 175 meters elevation, surrounded by mountains and fertile lowlands that produce tobacco and coffee.

The settlement was founded in 1495 by Christopher Columbus and relocated to its current site at Nibaje Stream in 1562 after an earthquake. In the 19th century, it became a center of the independence struggle against Spain, which led to the construction of the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration.

The name comes from the thirty knights of the Order of St. James who settled here in the early 16th century. Centro León displays regional artworks and traditional craft forms that visitors can still discover in workshops and galleries around the city today.

The city connects Santo Domingo to Monte Cristi via major highways and has an international airport with domestic and Caribbean flights. The center can be explored on foot, while taxis and motorcycle taxis are available for longer trips.

The Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration sits on a hilltop and is lit at night, making it visible from almost any point in the city. The region produces about 70 percent of Dominican cigar exports, which can be felt in small workshops throughout the urban area.