At the end of Calle El Conde, the Parque de Independencia (Independence Park) is the juncture of old and new Santo Domingo. It marks historical events and commemorates the long battle for independence.

At the entrance to the Parque de Independencia is the Puerto del Conde, named for the Conde (Count) de Peñalba, who led the resistance to the British invasion in 1655. This is also the site of a march for independence that occurred in 1844 to overthrow the occupying forces from Haiti, thereby securing their independent republic and raising the Dominican flag for the first time.

The Altar de la Patria (daily 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m., free) is the resting place of three of the Dominican Republic’s most celebrated figures: Juan Pablo Duarte, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, and Ramón Matías Mella. You should not wear shorts or short skirts to the Altar de la Patria. In the Parque de Independencia you will also find a marker from which all points in the city are measured.