The capital of the Dominican Republic is Santo Domingo. It is situated on the southeast coast of the island of Hispaniola, at the mouth of the Ozama River. Santo Domingo is the oldest permanent city established by Europeans in the Western Hemisphere. It has a rich history, having been sacked by Sir Francis Drake in 1586 and having defeated a British force in 1655. From 1795 to 1809, Santo Domingo was under French domination, and then, after another brief Spanish period, it was conquered by invaders from Haiti, its neighbor to the west on Hispaniola. Independence was proclaimed in 1844, and Santo Domingo became the capital of the new Dominican Republic until the republic’s annexation to Spain in 1861–65. The city has been the Dominican capital since the restoration of independence in 1865. Santo Domingo is also the most modern and dynamic metropolis in the Caribbean. It is the most populous city in the Dominican Republic and serves as a central hub for the culture, economy, and politics of the country. Santo Domingo also hosts several cultural events, including music and film festivals, and is home to various cultural institutions like museums, theaters, and art galleries.