The Museum of the Royal palaces is one of the most important cultural monuments built in Santo Domingo, in addition, it is one of the most visited museums of the city.

The construction of the building began October 5, 1511, on the orders of king Ferdinand of Aragon. The original building was built as a Palace in the Renaissance style, was divided into 2 parts: one part was the Palace of the commander-in-chief, and in the second room for the Royal court.

18 October 1973 the building was awarded with the title of the Museum, but the official opening took place on 31 may 1976. The opening ceremony was attended by the king of Spain Juan Carlos I.

The Museum reproduces the life of the colonial era, presents the life of the governors, has a collection of gilded furniture, a huge collection of weapons the dictator Trujillo, which includes samurai swords, daggers and armor. In addition, in the halls of the Museum you can see objects found on sunken ships. Some coins are so long lain under water, which turned into a solid gold bar. The earliest artifacts date back to the year 1492.

Also in the Museum you can explore the exhibition tells visitors about the voyages of Christopher Columbus, the life of the Taino Indians and African slaves.

On the former Royal court you can see a solar clock, which measured time in the XVII century.