Nicolás de Ovando, Governor
Nicolás de Ovando and Caceres (Brozas, Caceres,1460 – Sevilla, may 29, 1511) was the son ofCaptain Diego Fernández de Cáceres y Ovandoand his first wife Isabel Flores of the rods, Lady ofthe Queen Isabel I of Castile. He was Governor andcolonial administrator of Hispaniola from 1502 until1509, succeeding Francisco de Bobadillain office. He founded the towns of Puerto Real, Cares, SantaCruz de Aycayagua, Gotuy, Jaragua and Puerto Plata. It was moved andrebuilt the city of Santo Domingo, in addition to founding convents andpromote agriculture.
On February 13, 1502 he left Spainwith 32 boats, being bound towardsthe American continent‘s largestfleet of boats. Embarked in totalaround 1500 settlers, and unlikeCristóbal Colón, this group ofcolonists was chosen at random [citation needed] to representSpanish society in the new world. Itwas the first great Navy colonizing,financed primarily with private capital, but also the Crown participated,especially in tasks organizativas1 plan de Ovando, charted by the CatholicKings, was to developboth the basic economy of Hispaniola as establishpolitical, social, religious and administrative colonial structures.
With also traveled Francisco Pizarro, who would laterexplore Western South America and conquer theinca Empire. Likewise, in another vessel of the sametrip was Bartolomé de las Casas, later known as“The Protector of the Indians”. This is the portraitofthe Bishop of Chiapas, in his history of the Indies: “itwas medium body, and thebeard very blond or red;He was and showed great authority, friend ofJustice; It washonestisimo in his person in works and words, of greed andgreed great enemy, anddid not seem to lack humility, which is enamel ofthe virtues; and left that you showed him in all his foreign actions, in hishome Regiment, with its eat and dress, talk about family and public, alwayskeeping its gravity and authority, mostrolo also thatafter that they broughthim more charged, never ever consented to tell him any Honourable Member… “This gentleman was cautious and worthy male govern manypeople, but not Indians, because the rulership inestimable damage, asbelow seem like, made them“.
Known as casa de la Virreina is one of the oldest houses in the city. Builtand inhabited by Ovando. The austere façade, refined, made in stone,animated by 5 windows on carved stone.
Very elegant centenarian, interior period mahogany wood ceiling.
The yard has a pool and is adjacent to the banks of the Ozama River.
The old Tower, with a panoramic terrace, stayed for some time to PedroSantana, first President of the Republic (1844).
Today transformed in Hostal de Ovando.
Visit it Today!
