Bonao

Bonao is a city in the Cibao region of Dominican Republic. It is the capital of the Monseñor Nouel province. The city is located in the center of the country, to the northwest of the national capital Santo Domingo.[4][5] The city is known as "Villa de las Hortensias" - the town of hydrangeas. The Hortensia is the local flower of Bonao.[citation needed] Upon the arrival of the Spaniards, the territory belonged to the Taino chiefdom of Maguá. In 1495, Bartolomé Colón, during an exploration journey through the island, ordered the construction of a fortress to combat the resistance of the natives commanded by a chief with the name of Bonao.[citation needed]