Puerto Plata History
At the base of towering Mount Isabel de Torres, situated on the North coast of the Caribbean Island Hispanola, a place described by Columbus as the “fairest land” is the city Puerto Plata of the Dominican Republic. The place enjoys the status of most favored tourist destination in the Dominican Republic. It looks that the place was created for rest and leisure; the pure azure beaches with a backdrop of coastal hills, the valleys with all hues of green, the captivating Latin American ethos, and the unbelievable natural splendor invite and engage any traveler. The words of the greatest adventure traveler, Christopher Columbus, even after five centuries, are true to their mettle and spirit.
The city of Puerto Plata has been developed by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century. The fort of San Felipe, constructed during the time, bears testimony to the age old city. The fort has now been developed as a historical monument with a museum depicting the relics of the past; though earlier it was being utilized as the city prison. The city has one of the finest botanical gardens and one is located atop Mt Isabel de Torres. Its entrance has a magnificent statue of Christ, a smaller sized replica of the one in Rio-de-Janeiro. You can either walk it up to the summit or use a sky-lift, the tele-ferico.