La Isabela

Founded by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage in 1493, La Isabela stands as one of the oldest European settlements in the New World. Nestled within the Dominican Republic’s Puerto Plata, the site is now preserved as La Isabela National Park. Visitors can explore the remnants of the colony, which was intended to solidify Spanish presence in the West Indies. Among the notable structures and artifacts, the park offers a tangible connection to the early days of European exploration and settlement in the Americas.