Old Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Casa de Rodrigo de Bastida
©By Danny Aquino
Translation by Gerald Singer
Photos by Gerald Singer & Habiba Hussein

The Casa de Rodrigo de Bastida was built in 1505 and belonged to Rodrigo de Bastida, the founder and Governor-General of Santa Marta, Colombia. The Bastida family was second in importance only to that of Columbus family.

In Santo Domingo, Rodrigo de Bastida was the Almojarife Mayor or chief tax collector. In those times, taxes were not paid in money but rather in merchandise. The large Bastida residence served not only as a home for the Bastida family, but also as a warehouse for the merchandise that was collected as tax.

The house has five large parlors and several bedrooms. Within the Andalusia style courtyard are both fresh water wells and aljibes, which were used to store rainwater.

Well

aljibe

Rodrigo de Bastida lived in this house for 15 years. He died in Cuba from wounds he received in an assassination attempt that took place in Mexico. His remains lie in the Cathedral in Santo Domingo. The house remained in the Bastida family for six generations. Rodrigo de Bastida’s son, also named Rodrigo de Bastida, became the bishop of Venezuela and Puerto Rico.

Today the Casa de Rodrigo de Bastida is the venue for expositions in which Dominican and foreign artists can exhibit their painting, sculptures and other works of art to the public. The building also houses several governmental offices.

Top of Page