“The identity of the Beaterio is based on its hospitality, security, tranquility, and discretion. We ensure that we assist our guests with a helpful and trained reception team.” Rosmery de León, Operations Manager of the House Museum.
By Amelia Cuesta
Editorial Staff El Inmobiliario
SANTO DOMINGO.– Every corner of the Colonial City tells a story. El Beaterio, a boutique hotel, is a place that could easily go unnoticed, but once you find it, you'll never forget its wonderful memories.
Located at 8 Duarte Street, this House Museum is one of the area's most charming attractions, where 95% of guests are non-resident visitors. Its colonial structure dates back to the 16th century.
Once inside—with the doors closed—you feel the change in atmosphere and how its walls, steeped in history, transport you to that era. Original furniture in perfect condition has been reupholstered in such a way that the essence of the place remains in complete harmony.
Display cases with period objects found in the same space, such as inkwells, glass bottles used for medicines and perfumes, parts of stoves and musical instruments from the 16th-18th centuries, form a set that transports you to the remote place of its birth.
Originally, the House Museum had two floors and in the process of adapting it into a hotel they used its roof to make an open-air terrace overlooking the Convent of the Dominicans, whose religious order was the one that created this place with the mission of training women and guiding them to provide social help, according to Rosmery de León, operations manager of the place.
Visiting the Beaterio is to experience the magic of seeing its coral stone walls, which allow you to feel how the heat decreases and the air becomes cooler, while its select light emanates from beautiful Tiffany lamps in the lobby and reception, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The lobby has a high ceiling with large concrete and wood beams, and from here you can see the breakfast area, a space divided into two parts, furnished with metal chairs and tables adorned with natural flowers, which fill specific corners with life and permeate the atmosphere with their sweet aroma.
As you walk down the hallway, you'll find a Spanish-style courtyard with tall palm trees, lush ferns of an impressive green, and enormous stone planters—perfect for enjoying your morning coffee! The boutique hotel has eleven rooms spread across two floors, each with a unique décor, featuring distinctive pieces and colors, and prints from its original era.
What creates the greatest stylistic uniformity are the wooden doors and their handles, which resemble crosses from the Templar era, and the metal-framed four-poster beds. The bathrooms are small, as they maintain the original building dimensions.
De León shares some details about what makes the Beaterio a unique place:
- It retains a large percentage of the original building
- There are around one hundred items from that period
- All areas have some historical detail.
- The furniture is colonial, which is a source of attraction for some guests who are reminded of their grandmother's memories when they arrive and see the furniture.
- Before it was a hotel, it was a school, and former students come by and identify where the courtyard and their class were, and even show photos to confirm what they said.
- From the entrance wall to the second floor, there are framed literature displays that allow you to take a tour through history, from archaeological findings to who the Dominicans were and the birth of the first and only beaterio in Santo Domingo
- The Beaterio has been operating as a hotel for 15 years and has never been renovated since then.
Classified as a “building of documentary-historical and architectural value”, in 2016 it was declared by the Ministry of Culture as the first hotel-museum of the Dominican Republic and by UNESCO as a “World Heritage Site” in 1990.
The hotel-museum offers personalized service, includes breakfast, and its location makes it easy to explore the surrounding area, from the park across the street to the restaurants and museums. It is definitely one of the most beautiful, intimate, and thoughtfully designed places you will find in the Colonial City.
Source: El Beaterio (elbeaterio.com)
