Santiago de los Caballeros
About 1 million people in the metro area.
Santiago is the country's second-largest city and the proud heart of the fertile Cibao valley. It is famous for cigars, merengue music, and warm, friendly people.
Climb up to the Monument to the Heroes for a big view of the city, watch cigars being rolled by hand, and enjoy lively street music during Carnival.
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Landmarks
The tall Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration stands on a hill and lights up at night, watching over the whole valley.
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Carnival
Every February the city fills with colorful lechones, playful masked characters in glittering costumes who dance through the streets.