Well known for its spectacular mountains and beautiful beaches, the Dominican Republic is blessed with a wide variety of landscapes and natural attractions. It has dense mountain forests, extensive mangroves, bone-dry deserts as well as a large number of protected national parks. Its beaches range from placid stretches of white sands to some of the world's best windsurfing sites. It is also a country with a vibrant cultural life, producing internationally famous musicians, artists and sportsmen. A blend of European, African, North American and pre-Columbian influences has created a culture expressed in the arts, architecture and infectious merengue music. In this introduction to the Dominican Republic, James Ferguson surveys the country's many historic and national treasures, ranging from colonial-era churches and mansions to modern beach resorts.
