La Romana
Lingering along the riverbanks
Visitors to La Romana, 115 km east of Santo Domingo, can enjoy the blossoming Bayahibe beach resort just down the road, and the glamorous Casa de Campo complex, which also lies nearby just waiting to be discovered on an MSC Caribbean and Antilles excursion.
However, with some appealing riverside restaurants and its proximity to sights such as Isla Catalina and the Cueva de las Maravillas, it’s well worth visiting La Romana itself during your Caribbean holiday, which is also well placed as a stop-off between Santo Domingo and the beaches on the east coast.
La Romana downtown with its tidy streets lined with potted palms – combined with a sprinkling of cosy cafés, good bars and one or two excellent places to eat – make it a pleasant place to hang out. From most parts of the centre, however, the river is unfortunately hidden from view and its banks are not easily accessible.
The delightfully shaded Parque Central is, instead, the major meeting place, dotted with an eclectic mix of metal sculptures and fibreglass statues of former local baseball heroes. You can check out the current crop of players during the winter fixtures at the Estadio Francisco Micheli, home field of Los Toros del Este, which is located at Abreu and Luperón towards the western end of town. Just west of the arena the municipal market sells bountiful produce and meat; look also for the small botánicas selling various items related to Vodú Dominicana.
