Monasterio de San Francisco, Santo Domingo

The ruins of the first monastery built in the Americas, begun in the early sixteenth century for the Franciscan order in the colonial city. Damaged by earthquakes, hurricanes and pirate raids over the centuries, its roofless stone walls and arches now stand as an evocative open-air landmark. The site has been stabilised and is often used for evening concerts and community gatherings among the illuminated ruins. Its weathered masonry offers a striking record of the ambitions and hardships of the earliest colonial builders.