A Celebration of Heritage and Haute Culture: Assouline and the Dominican Republic Unveil “Santo Domingo” in New York
- adriana
- 5 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Assouline together with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism will unveil its newest title, Santo Domingo, through an intimate, invitation only event at Casa Tua on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Taking place on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, the private evening will gather a select group of cultural leaders, editors, tastemakers, and global creatives to celebrate a destination that has shaped the Caribbean story for more than five centuries.
Image by Aline Coquelle ©
The new volume represents one of Assouline’s most vivid cultural portraits to date. It captures the Dominican capital as a city of layered history and luminous modernity, offering readers a visual journey through architecture, heritage, art, gastronomy, coastline, and daily life. With more than two hundred photographs by celebrated photographer Aline Coquelle and essays guided by Dominican writer Rosanna Rivera, the book presents Santo Domingo not only as the first European settlement in the Americas, but as a contemporary cultural hub pulsing with creativity.
Image by Aline Coquelle ©
In 288 pages, Santo Domingo reveals a city where time folds gracefully. The historic Zona Colonial, a UNESCO World Heritage site, rises in soft limestone and coral stone, its narrow streets and centuries old buildings recalling the earliest chapters of the New World. The book celebrates iconic architectural sites, the cathedral and fortress structures that anchor the city’s identity, and the pastel facades and grand courtyards that give Santo Domingo its unmistakable rhythm.
Image by Aline Coquelle ©
The volume also highlights the city’s evolving creative landscape. Today, Santo Domingo is home to a flourishing generation of designers, artists, chefs, and visionaries who continue to shape its cultural identity. The book captures this duality. The historic and the modern. The monumental and the cosmopolitan. The essence of a city that has never stopped reinventing itself while honoring its origins.
Image by Aline Coquelle ©
For the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism, this partnership with Assouline represents a landmark moment. Under the leadership of Minister David Collado, the Dominican Republic has experienced unprecedented global visibility, with the capital emerging as a destination of renewed cultural significance. Minister Collado describes Santo Domingo as “the historical soul of the Dominican Republic,” a place where heritage and hospitality come together with natural beauty and vibrant urban life.
Image by Aline Coquelle ©
The private launch at Casa Tua reflects this spirit. The evening will feature a curated introduction to the book, a signing, and conversations that explore the city’s legacy and ongoing cultural renaissance. Guests will experience a refined immersion into Dominican artistry and identity within one of New York’s most elegant and intimate settings.
Image by Maria Grazia Casella ©
Assouline’s signature craftsmanship is evident throughout the volume. The book is both object and experience. A piece of collectible design that honors Santo Domingo’s architectural grandeur, its golden light, its textured surfaces, and its deeply rooted traditions. The imagery offers a sensory exploration of the city. Golden sunsets along the Malecón. Palm-framed views of the Caribbean Sea. The vibrant colors of local markets. The sophistication of contemporary galleries and warm hospitality of longstanding Dominican families.
Image by Aline Coquelle ©
More than a travel book, Santo Domingo is a cultural ambassador. It celebrates the richness of Dominican identity, shaped by African, European, and Taíno influences. It captures the resilience, creativity, and warmth of a people whose heritage is reflected in every street, every meal, and every moment of the city’s daily rhythm.
Image by Peter Bischoff / Getty Images
The Dominican Republic remains one of the Caribbean’s fastest growing destinations, attracting millions with its beaches, mountains, luxury resorts, ecological treasures, and cultural depth. Yet it is Santo Domingo, with its vibrant history and modern pulse, that stands as the country’s cultural heartbeat. This volume positions the city as a global design and lifestyle destination, appealing to travelers who seek authenticity, sophistication, and enduring beauty.
Image by Yakov Oskanov © / Shutterstock
In Assouline’s Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic finds a tribute worthy of its past and its future. The book captures a capital that is both timeless and newly ascendant, poised between heritage and innovation. Through evocative storytelling and arresting imagery, the volume invites the world to rediscover Santo Domingo with fresh eyes and a deeper sense of admiration.
Image by Aline Coquelle ©
The private launch in New York honors this moment. A celebration of lineage and luxury. A portrait of a city alive with color, memory, and possibility. And a refined cultural collaboration that elevates the Dominican Republic’s presence on the world stage.