Panteón Nacional (National Pantheon), Santo Domingo (must see)

The National Pantheon is a significant historical and cultural landmark with a storied past that spans centuries. Originally built from 1714 to 1746 by the Spaniard Geronimo Quezada y Garçon, the structure started as a Jesuit church, showcasing the neoclassic-renaissance architectural style.

Today, the National Pantheon stands as a proud national symbol of the Dominican Republic and holds a profound role as the final resting place for the country's most esteemed citizens. Initially serving as a place of worship, the Jesuits conducted masses within its walls from 1746 to 1767. However, its purpose evolved over time, and after 1767, it went through various uses, including functioning as a tobacco warehouse and a theater.

The theater within the National Pantheon became a crucial hub for the pro-independence organization La Trinitaria. Under the guise of aliases like La Filantrópica and La Dramática, national heroes such as Juan Pablo Duarte, Ramon Matias Mella, and Francisco del Rosario Sanchez, among others, expressed their ideas and aspirations for a free and sovereign republic. From this stage, the seeds of independence and nationalism were sown, paving the way for the country's eventual liberation.

In 1956, the National Pantheon underwent renovations by Spanish architect Javier Borroso to transform it into a national mausoleum, under the order of then dictator Rafael Trujillo. Ironically, Trujillo initially envisioned being buried at the National Pantheon, but today it serves as the resting place for the Dominican Republic's most celebrated individuals, including some of Trujillo's assassins. Notable figures interred at the National Pantheon include Francisco Gregorio Billini, Gregorio Luperón, and Eugenio Hostos, among others.