On a trip to the Dominican Republic a few years ago, we stayed in the southern part of the country in La Romana. It was a resort type vacation, just to relax and take it easy, but we kept hearing about this quaint little Mediterranean village that was worthy of a day trip. We decided to check it out, so we went ahead and booked a tour. It’s only 20 minutes’ drive from La Romana and about an hour from Punta Cana. Getting there is by tours and reservations only and the drive takes you through the Casa de Campo Resort with its luxurious mansions, high end villas and three golf courses. There is an entry fee of US $50.00 (25 for a child) however if you’re staying at the resort, which is all part of this vast property, the fee is waived.

Altos de Chavon, constructed in 1982, is the recreation of a 16th century Mediterranean style village. It has narrow cobblestone streets, buildings with lanterns, and walls made of hand cut limestone sourced from a nearby quarry. Sitting on a cliff overlooking the Chavon River, the setting is very authentic in its look and feel. One of the main attractions here is the Greek style amphitheater which seats about 5000. The inaugural concert was performed by Frank Sinatra back in 1982 and the venue has hosted various international artists throughout the years. There are film festivals, ballet and other theatrical performances held here as well. Being a cultural centre for residents and working artists, there a number of studios catering to different media like pottery, silk screening and weaving. The on-site fine arts gallery showcases works from local and international artists.

Seeing all these beautiful buildings that were built in the 1970’s/80’s but look like they’ve been around for hundreds of years only adds to the charm and romance of it all. Against the backdrop of this magical setting, we found some highly rated restaurants, artisan boutiques and shops offering a slew of locally made goods like jewelry, fashionable clothing, textiles, chocolate and Dominican cigars.

As we strolled through the village, the attention to detail is quite evident. The intricately crafted stone pathways, the hand carved wooden door frames and balustrades, the wrought iron work, it’s all a testament to the local artisans who worked on this project. It wasn’t very busy when we visited so there was a sense of peace and tranquility, not a bad place to spend a couple of hours.

Sitting in the village plaza is the very impressive St. Stanislaus Church. Named for the Polish patron saint Stanislaus of Szczepanow, it is a tribute to Pope John Paul II who visited Santo Domingo in 1979 and left some of the saint’s ashes behind. It is a popular venue for weddings and other celebrations. At the end of the plaza there’s the Chavon River overlook where you can sit and relax or dine at one of the cliff top restaurants.

Altos de Chavon was designed by Dominican architect Jose Antonio Caro and created by Italian designer and cinematographer Roberta Coppa. The construction lasted six years and with the help of local craftsmen who had to call on their traditional building skills, this place is also a monument to them. A visit here is like stepping back in time and despite the US 50.00 entrance fee which seems a little steep, we enjoyed it.