The Plaza de la Cultura is Santo Domingo's cultural centre — a large open space in the Gazcue neighbourhood, northwest of the Zona Colonial, that houses four museums, the National Theatre, and manicured gardens. The museums are the Museo del Hombre Dominicano (anthropology), the Museo de Arte Moderno (modern art), the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (natural history), and the Museo de Historia y Geografía (national history and geography).
You could easily spend an entire day here. The Plaza is also a good place to sit and watch the city go by — it is popular with students, families, and couples in the afternoons. The Teatro Nacional hosts opera, ballet, and classical concerts; the programme is available at the box office. Admission to each museum is charged separately; the anthropology museum is the strongest of the four.