Altos de Chavón, Mediterranean village replica in La Romana, Dominican Republic
Altos de Chavón is a village built on a plateau above the Chavón River, featuring limestone walls, cobblestone streets, and handcrafted building details throughout. The layout includes galleries, an archaeology museum, craft workshops, restaurants, and shops alongside residential areas.
Construction started in 1976 under the vision of an Italian architect and an American industrialist, using stone from local quarries to complete the village by 1982. From its inception, the site was planned as a cultural center with educational institutions and artistic facilities.
The design school here attracts students from around the world who study fine arts, fashion, and design in a Mediterranean-inspired setting. The village functions as a working space where you can watch craftspeople and artists in their studios.
The village is easy to explore on foot, as all streets and squares connect via the stone pathways and most buildings are open to visitors. Plan time to visit the galleries, museum, and craft workshops at a relaxed pace.
The amphitheater with 5,000 seats is designed so that performers' voices carry clearly to the back rows without any electronic help. Ancient Roman building techniques were adapted here to work in modern times.
Location: La Romana
Inception: August 1982
Website: http://kandela.com.do/altos.htm
GPS coordinates: 18.42125,-68.89173
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:01
The Dominican Republic draws photographers with its range of landscapes and subjects. Along the coast, long stretches of sand beaches appear, some with calm water, others with waves that attract surfers. Inland, trails lead to waterfalls that drop over rocks into natural pools, while caves and underground lakes offer unexpected finds. Colonial buildings in Santo Domingo display 16th-century architecture, with stone churches, monastery ruins, and fortresses that stand along harbor walls. Places in the collection include the Basilica of Santa Maria la Menor, the Dominican Convent, and Fortaleza San Felipe. Beaches like Bavaro, Macao, and Playa Rincon provide different coastal views, while Los Haitises National Park shows mangrove forests and limestone formations. Waterfalls such as El Limon and the 27 Charcos de Damajagua sit within forested areas. Saona and Cayo Arena are small islands with shallow water. Lago Enriquillo, a saltwater lake below sea level, lies in a dry setting near the Haitian border. These locations give a sense of the natural and built environments across the island.
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Alcázar de Colón
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Columbus Lighthouse
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Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia
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Los Tres Ojos National Park
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Fortaleza Ozama
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Dominican National Pantheon
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Park nacional cueva de las maravillas
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Macao playa turística
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Reserva científica natural lagunas Redonda y Limón
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Parque Nacional Submarino La Caleta
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Cotubanamá National Park
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Jardín Botanico
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Parque Nacional Del Este
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Puente Matías Ramón Mella
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Molinos Park
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Playa Rincón
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Playa Bavaro
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Cueva Arena
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Terminal Don Diego
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Capilla de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios
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Museo Naval de las Atarazanas Reales
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Bayahibe Beach
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Playa Fronton
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Hoyo Azul
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Arena Gorda Beach
57.2 kmVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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