About the Museum

The Alcázar de Colón (Spanish pronunciation: [alˈkasaɾ ðe koˈlon]; lit. 'Columbus Alcazar') is the first fortified European palace built in the Americas. Located in the colonial area of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, it forms part of the Ciudad Colonial, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Predominantly Gothic with Renaissance influences, the palace was constructed between 1511 and 1514, but fell into ruin by the mid-18th century. It remained abandoned until 1957, when it was restored into a museum. It is the only known residence of a member of the Christopher Columbus family in the New World. The palace was inhabited by Columbus's first-born son, Diego Columbus, whose children Juana, Isabel, Luis, and Christopher were born there. Diego Columbus died in Spain in 1526, but his widow, María Álvarez de Toledo, remained at the palace until her death in 1549. Three generations of the Columbus family inhabited the residence, possibly until the late 16th century. The palace's Tapestry collection, spanning from the 15th to 17th centuries, is particularly significant and unique in the Caribbean, featuring pieces produced by the Flemish Van Den Hecke family from cartouches created by Charles Le Brun. The Alcázar is the most visited museum in Santo Domingo.