Santo Domingo marks 528th anniversary with civic events and new statue

The capital of the Dominican Republic commemorated the 528th anniversary of its founding with a series of public events. Mayor and presidential candidate Carolina Mejía highlighted the delivery of more than 215 parks and plazas covering 1.2 million m², the installation of over 12 000 LED streetlights, and technical‑training programmes for over 1 300 students. She also noted recent infrastructure projects such as the Malecón Deportivo and the Paseo 30 de Mayo.

A permanent bronze statue of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, created by artist Dustin Muñoz, was unveiled in the Plaza del Convento de los Dominicos. The ceremony was organized by the Comité Gestor Pro Estatua de Santo Domingo de Guzmán and attended by the mayor, religious leader Rosa Monique Peña, and U.S. Ambassador Leah F. Campos.

The Archdiocese held a solemn Mass in the Cathedral Primada de América, led by Archbishop Carlos Tomás Morel Diplán, who urged citizens to preserve the spiritual and cultural values that originated the city. Various cultural acts and historical reflections were also staged throughout the day.