This Elizabethan-Gothic building was erected in 1503 as the house of Francisco Tostado, the clerk of the Spanish governor, Nicolas de Ovando. The double Gothic window on the exterior of the building above the front door is a sure sign you have found the right place. It is the only one of its kind in the western hemisphere.
The Casa de Tostado now houses the Museo de La Familia Dominicana (Calle Arzobispo Meriño and Padre Billini, tel. 809/689-5000, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Mon.–Sat., RD$50). This museum opened its doors in 1973, and most of the objects inside come from donations from families across the nation. The collection brings together articles such as furniture, paintings, photos, books, and personal items in an effort to highlight the traditions, culture, and history of the 19th-century Dominican family.