If these walls could talk, they'd tell this city's story. But this is no dusty museum. A stay in one of these six impeccably restored colonial-era homes means toggling between the 16th and 21st centuries. Imagine archways, terracotta floors and courtyards evocative of a medieval monastery crossed with Sub Zero refrigerators, iPhones to contact your personal assistant and heated plunge pools.
The rooms in the Casa del Pozo feature high ceilings, a whitewashed aesthetic and beautiful claw-footed tubs in the bathrooms. Customized cooking classes can be arranged in the Casa los Mapas, which sports a kitchen any professional chef would envy. A short walk from the others, Casa Antillana is particularly sunny and colorful with a small, leafy courtyard. Across the cobblestone street is relatively compact Casa Macoris, best for families or groups.
The common areas are accessible to all guests, so if you want to try out another place you can take your gourmet à la carte breakfast at the home of your choice.
Owned by the country's wealthiest family, the Vicincis, there's no shortage of resources to carry out the future plans which call for an additional dozen or so homes and a total of 65 rooms; three houses will be converted into a similarly luxurious but lower cost Hotel del XVI only a block from the cathedral. The reception lobby will be moved elsewhere and a larger common pool will be built.