La Vega
La Vega is mid sized city located in the center of the Dominican Republic. Originally the site of a small fort built by Christopher Columbus in 1494, a settlement quickly grew around the fort. By 1508 gold was found in the area, and the town soon grew into one of the largest and most important European colonies in the western hemisphere. Tragically, the town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1562. The city was relocated to the banks of the Camú River, and all that remains of the original town is now a frequently visited national historic site.
