When Christopher Columbus discovered the island, it was inhabited by an indigenous race know as the Tainos. The latter had inhabited the island since 800 A.D. and led a simple sedentary lifestyle rich in agriculture and religious tradition. The culture they developed was the richest in the Caribbean area. Examples of Taino art, such as pottery, cave drawings and woven artifacts, have been found throughout the island.

The Spanish colonization in the XVI century brought great changes in the original population, the environment and the culture of the communities formed later.

Spanish, French, and Africans populated the territory replacing the Taino culture.  For this reason, the current Dominican population is composed, in its majority, of mulattos and blacks, as well as a small percentage of whites.  Important segments of European and Arabic origin arrived later and have had a great influence on today's society

Since La Hispaniola was an important colony of the Spanish Empire, the colonizers built many important sites which are kept today  in their original state and many conform the Colonial City, the oldest in America.

There are many museums to visit with collections ranging from the colonial times up to contemporary art.

Dominican music is a result of the diverse cultural influences that have existed in the island. The most popular representation of our music is known as Merengue.