Santiago is a province of the Dominican Republic, in the north of the country. Santiago is an intellectual, educational, and cultural center. It is also a major industrial center with rum, textile, cigarette and cigar industries based there. Shoe manufacturing, leather goods, and furniture making are important parts of the province's economic life. Santiago also has major Free Zone centers with four important industrial free zones; it also has an important cement factory. Santiago is home to one of the largest medical centers in the country, Clinica Union Medica, which serves all 13 provinces of El Cibao.
Also within striking distance there are a good number of pleasant towns, many of which are quite prosperous. Santiago is in the center of the Cibao Valley, the wealthiest region in the Republic, per capita. It is surrounded by tall mountains which have for years protected it from hurricanes and allows for dense tropical forests to develop on the slopes of such mountains, which are among the highest in the region.
Another reason for choosing this rich city is because of it's diverse culture and transparent nightlife. Whether it is the music, food, or beautiful women, Santiago has something for everyone. Such clubs as Pasion make the city's market much more abundent, with male tourist who seek a good time while on vacation.