National Pantheon

National Pantheon is a mausoleum where the remains of outstanding characters in the history of the Dominican Republic are preserved. The Pantheon is located in the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo.

The building was one of the last buildings built by the Spaniards on Dominican soil. The date of the beginning of its construction is not known with certainty but some historians suppose that it was between 1714 and 1755 and is attributed to Jerónimo Quezada y Garçon. It originally served as a church of the Jesuit order. Here the Jesuit priests gave Mass with their backs to the congregation so that everyone, including the priests, would face the figure of Jesus Christ and the altar. When the Jesuits were expelled from the country in 1767, the building was given various uses: it was used as a deposit to store tobacco, as a theater, as a school, and served as a seat to several government institutions. In 1958, during the Trujillo era, it was restored, at a cost of RD $ 438,938.00, (very high sum for the time), later baptizing it as "National Pantheon": a mausoleum to house the remains of national heroes, civil and military. The majestic chandelier hanging in the center of the Chapel was a gift from Spanish dictator Francisco Franco to General Trujillo. Just below the chandelier is a flame that burns 24 hours a day.

The National Pantheon has about 36 empty spaces to house future heroes. There is also an empty space without a plaque, dedicated to the unknown soldier. There is a permanent Honor Guard, composed of members of the presidential guard, dressed in finery, without moving a single muscle. One of them makes a solemn walk of round in the central aisle, which goes from the main entrance to just in front of the main altar. In the pantheon, together with the Dominican flag, the flags of the Air Force, Navy and Army of the Dominican Republic are displayed.

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