The Billini Hotel is located in the heart of the colonial city of Santo Domingo, founded in 1498 as a result of Christopher Columbus's second voyage to the New World. This UNESCO World Heritage site, colloquially known as the Colonial Zone, houses the first cathedral, hospital, customs house, and university in the Americas. With a rich history of its own, the building that houses the hotel tells a story as fascinating as that of Santo Domingo itself.
It was built in the 16th century to serve as a colonial house for the Convent of Regina Angelorum. During the French occupation of Santo Domingo in 1804, it served as an arsenal for the Napoleonic army under Governor Jean Louis Ferrand. In 1848, the building served as the seat of Archbishop Tomás Portes e Infante, before becoming the home of the historic San Luis Gonzaga school, founded by Father Francisco X. Billini in 1865. Today, the Billini Hotel has been beautifully restored as the first historically significant luxury hotel in the Colonial Zone.