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Frequently mentioned in reviews: visit (16) history (15) Columbus (14) building (12) structure (10) monument (8) world (7) cross (7) museum (7) Spanish (6)
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  • 3/5 Dejan B. 2 years ago on Google
    This is a very intriguing, difficult to rate monument. Italian born and sailed out to the New world under the Spanish flag, neither of these countries ever had such architecture. If I was put here not knowing where I am, I'd guess I'm in ex USSR or some ex eastern block country. So, I wonder whose idea was to build this brutal massive concrete structure ??!! But, this strong contrast with everything else you see in DR (as well in all Caribbean) and the importance of Columbus discovery makes you visit it. Faro a Colon lies in the eastern part of SD, across the Ozama river in a huge park. It's around 10 min drive from Zona Colonial, and there's a pretty big parking lot. Heavy police presence, felt safe - do NOT come after sunset as it's not safe as police told us (nor there's anything you can do). The edifice is in a shape of a huge cross, enormous in size, like a 7,8 stores bldg high. Entry is free. Beneath the center of the cross is a big Columbus grave monument with his remains as they say (although everybody knows it is in Seville Cathedral), while above it is a crown symbolizing the lighthouse. On the shorter Cross arm are few Chapels with some paintings, while on the longer Cross arm is a total confusion of several interconnected rooms with displays and pics from Japan, China, EU, South America,....really didn't find a clue why they're there (explanations are mostly in Spanish). In my opinion the authorities could find a much better (and way less expensive) way to honor Columbus - I doubt he'd like this as well. TIP: Combine your visit here with the 3 eyes National park, which is only 5 min drive from here (for the lighthouse you need around 30 min for a visit).
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Viridiana Zequeida S. 1 year ago on Google • 56 reviews
    This is a monument to Christopher Columbus, tickets ran roughly $2 USD per person. Once we bought tickets a man near the entrance offered his services as a tour guide through the installation as donation based. The man definitely had a lot of knowledge regarding the museum so it helped to get through it much faster. We were told Columbus remains lie in the middle of the building. They also have the pope mobile John Paul II used on his visits to Santo Domingo.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Alan G. 2 years ago on Google
    I may be missing something, but someone please tell me what is the point of this place? It's basically just an ugly hulk celebrating the colonisation and exploitation of Spanish colonies opened up by Christopher Columbus. I get that presidents may like a flagship project for prosperity however I didn't see anything of benefit about this place in terms of either aesthetics, views, interest, spirit, rationale.....looks like some overbearing spaceship landed from Battlestar Galactica.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Totti 8 months ago on Google
    This place is worth visiting and has to be more known to the people. But it’s also needed to be further developed for its worth.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Benjamin B. 2 months ago on Google • 454 reviews New
    Faro a Colón ist ein für uns sehr komisches Bauwerk aus vielen schweren (hässlichen) Betonplatten. Das Denkmal hat keinen Charme, ist nicht schön in Szene gesetzt und macht von außen (bis auf die Größe) nichts her. Innen wird es nicht sehr viel besser. Zentral gelegen ist das Grab von Kolumbus was auch imposant aussieht. Das Innere des Denkmals ist komplett irrelevant und es werden zu unterschiedlichen Ländern Bilder und Dinge ausgestellt - warum haben wir nicht verstanden, meist stand alles nur auf spanisch und es gab keine Audio Guides (wie bei vielen sehr viel kleineren Monumenten).

  • 5/5 Martin Denis A. 2 years ago on Google
    What a fantastic structure!. Amazing architecture!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Mad “MadWand3rer” W. 1 year ago on Google
    A very nice place to visit, the inside is beautiful, the outside looks very neutral.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Antonio Martín M. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful place It's not clear whether you can go in by yourself or not. I saw people inside and I asked one of the security person. Spanish is my mother tongue so no language barrier. Still she couldn't understand why I wanted to go inside and visit it. She escorted me from one entrance to another, and felt weird. So quick photos and left. No chance of going around or paying attention to details. Still this is a stunning place.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Abigail E. 4 months ago on Google • 428 reviews
    While the lighthouse is not located in a safe space for foreign tourists, visitors can park briefly on the side of the road to get a picture. Unfortunately, the lighthouses is rarely lit, as its 150 searchlights cause a power blackout in the nearby neighborhood.

  • 4/5 Dan B. 2 months ago on Google • 126 reviews New
    Interesting structure... Massive! Most exhibits inside are only in Spanish so I couldn't really appreciate them as much but the building itself is impressive. A word of caution - we attempted to walk across the field to a nearby street and we were called back and told that it is not safe... thieves regularly are stealing valuables from tourists. Thanks for the warning! We called an Uber! $100 DOP entrance fee.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Thomas H. 1 month ago on Google • 323 reviews New
    Von aussen war ich sehr skeptisch, aber innen war es beeindruckend...tolle Ausstellungen ... die WCs könnten etwas ansprechender sein.

  • 5/5 Nicole B. 3 weeks ago on Google • 316 reviews New
    We had a tour guide who brought us here and gave us a history lesson out front, but never brought us inside. (Which was rather disappointing) So make sure you know what you are getting when you book tours. However, the information was great and we still got to walk around and take pictures outside. I can't comment on parking, as we were dropped off in front.

  • 4/5 Edwin D. 4 months ago on Google • 86 reviews
    The architect is beautiful, so is the building, although christopher columbua did some awful things we can thank him for being the first to spread diversity and help shape the world in which we live in. So good things do come from evil acts. The area around isnt the safest or nicest looking but the Politur Police does a great job of keeping it safe maybe the goverment can assign them all with guns. Also this building is beauitful wish the tourism department gave it a major face lift here and the surrounding area, it has so much potential.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sidney W. 2 months ago on Google • 86 reviews New
    Great experience as far as sight seeing. The building is definitely unique with some history inside. I believe they can do a little better upkeep on it though as you can tell many things inside the museum are not authentic, nevertheless, the architecture if the building is astonishing enough and worth the visit.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 D M. 6 months ago on Google • 73 reviews
    If you enjoy history and reading save yourself a little chunk of time to get through this place.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 M O. 3 months ago on Google • 39 reviews New
    The is the cross that god can see from the sky. (It was what they told me) It was huge building! It was 2 usd to enter. Many people just stayed outside but I definitely recommend to go inside to see
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 AxEcross 10 months ago on Google
    A nice place to learn about culture. Entrance tickets are cheap and you will get to see a lot of stuff while walking in the hallways and small rooms
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Brandon M. 1 year ago on Google
    This structure is interesting. There’s no electricity inside the building so it is difficult to see the exhibits. One of the pope mobiles is located outside. This attraction is located in an area with higher crime so take care.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Mike S. 1 year ago on Google
    Spectacular structure, supposedly housing the remains of Chrisptopher Columbus. The also have the Pope Mobile in which they utilized during a visit on display. There is a nice view of the city from the top of the stairs.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alston S. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautifully made structure with a rich and unique history
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Bledi J. 2 years ago on Google
    A striking monument viewed from afar, but very strange and somewhat outdated once in it. I’d say worth a visit (it’s free) if you’ve got 15 minutes to waste and are in that area, but don’t make the trip just for its sake.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Kristina K. 2 years ago on Google
    Was not very impressed by it. The building is not well maintained. We were able to go inside only for a few minutes because of COVID restrictions. Would not recommend drive here on purpose, only in a pair with Los Tres Ojos, which is nearby.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ceybeth C. 2 years ago on Google
    This monument is HUGE and so full of history! The hallways are like a history/cultural museum of different countries in the world, pretty space; you can rent for photoshoots for about $80, getting a permission with the dates before paying in their office (in the monument)
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tyler D. 3 weeks ago on Google • 36 reviews New
    We didn't go inside but we were able to glance in since we were there while it was closed. Definitely a cool place to see some history.

  • 4/5 Mariana V. 1 year ago on Google
    A must go if you’re in Santo Domingo for a few days.. it also has some cool history of some countries of the world. It’s a bit abandoned in my opinion, the outskirts as well but the view inside is beautiful

  • 4/5 Rafael Jose R. 2 years ago on Google
    This important Dominican monument and museum is dedicated to the memory of the Italian explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus whose efforts marked the beginning of the European colonization of the New World. This huge concrete structure in the shape of a cross projects vertical rays of light that form a large cross in the sky that can be seen for many miles. Inside is the mausoleum that keeps the mortal remains of Christopher Columbus.

  • 1/5 Zuli 2 years ago on Google
    70 million dollars spent on a light house designed by a foreign scotmans that doesn’t even have the remains of Columbus since DNA has proven that his remains are in Spain and the Dominican government won’t allow the dna of the random guy buried here to be tested. What does it matter the whole city is dedicated to him anyway? Here’s what matters: the infrastructure hasn’t improved healthcare and profilaxis access for women hasn’t improved. The colonial caste system is still clearly in place, when you stay at local hotels it’s obvious. I’d be happier to visit my fathers ancestral home if I didn’t have to witness children risking their lives daily throwing themselves into oncoming traffic like a deadly real life game of frogger. Traffic flows in all directions no access at all for ambulances. Years pass and the population has exploded with no accommodation to better the living of the common citizen. Colonialism still reigns in DR. This monument is a stain on the nation. Truly a disgusting display of political corruption and fiscal waste.

  • 5/5 Rosmery I. 3 years ago on Google
    Going back soon and hope is open. They're close do to the pandemic. But the outside is gorgeous

  • 5/5 Cynthia A. 2 years ago on Google
    OMG. Amazing tour to this place. Informative... the kids loved it.

  • 3/5 Min Suk G. 2 years ago on Google
    Interesting place, huge concrete structure shaped like a cross.

  • 5/5 Алексей �. 2 years ago on Google
    Columbus Lighthouse is a fundamental building in Santo Domingo with an unusual architectural design. Its lights, as local guides assure, shine for tens of kilometers.

  • 5/5 Thunder H. 2 years ago on Google
    Very interesting place to visit. Massive structure, as of Dec 2021 it seems like it is under renovation but it is open with FREE admission

  • 5/5 L D. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful place full of historic. Christopher Columbus ashes rest in here as Santo Domingo is the first city of the new world. Santo Domingo is a beautiful country full of history and el faro a colon is a place to visit whenever you visit the country.

  • 5/5 Family D. 1 year ago on Google
    This is definitely worth a visit because it's an impressive structure and there's an interesting museum inside. Lots of opportunities for good pictures and it's free entry.

  • 5/5 Unique C. 8 months ago on Google
    Didn't make it in because we were running behind on our tour and not everyone wanted to go in, but it's great to look at and we were told about the history, I will revisit to go inside

  • 5/5 Jay P. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful place to visit regardless of your religion standpoint. If you love history, just go inside and they have some amazing historical artifacts from all around the world.

  • 5/5 leonidas r. 3 years ago on Google
    The most amazing place to see in Dominican Republic. The faro it's really amazing and very very big. Unfortunately I go there at covid 19 period and the museum inside is closed.

  • 1/5 Patrik K. 1 year ago on Google
    We were walking through the room without electricity and had to use our mobile lights to see something. Huge building in the middle of very large park where are no people, no tourists and all just looks very depressing. WC in desolate condition. After we went out police came to us on a motorbike to escort us. They told us this is dangerous area.

  • 4/5 John D. 2 years ago on Google
    Very interesting exhibits representative of most countries. Oddly, the US and Canada exhibits have very little, perhaps representing the change in attitude towards Sr Columbus. But it's worth a visit. There is the Popemobile used by Pope J-P II.

  • 4/5 Robb R. 1 year ago on Google
    Super educational about the documented discovery of the Amerícas and Crístobal Colón. Building is built in the design of a cross. Multiple countries helped fund the building to be built. Each country is also represented in the museum with areas dedicated to their history. The vehicle in the photo was used for the Pope's visit.

  • 5/5 Pablo G. 2 years ago on Google
    Good. A part of history. Interesting guide needed. Why not every room is open?

  • 4/5 Omar G. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful place with lots of history. But from the outside the place looks abandoned. The government needs to do a better job at keeping this type of places looking their best.

  • 5/5 Manouk H. 1 year ago on Google
    This place is colossal. Bits of history from each of the countries from the western world, plus a few others. Despite Columbus’s reputation, this lighthouse Is absolutely beautiful and a must see for anyone visiting Santo Domingo. It’s completely free and could take a few hours to go through the exhibits thoroughly and learn about the Americas. Make sure to take your time and take plenty of photos!

  • 2/5 Mercedes R. 3 months ago on Google • 2 reviews New
    This place was closed for many years with the excuse of making a renovation. Doesn't look like they did this renovation at all because bathrooms are in awful conditions, the shopfronts are mostly broken (when these must be in perfect conditions to protect the pieces on exhibitions). The light is poor and you could feel the humidity inside the rooms. The written information shown on the walls are only in Spanish.


Call +1 809-591-4844 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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