Altos de Chavón
Casa de Campo, La Romana
Täglich 9–21 Uhr
25 USD
★★★ The Renaissance Village Above the River
One of the most unusual sights in the Caribbean: Altos de Chavón is a faithful replica of a 16th-century Italian village, built from 1976–1982 on a cliff 100 meters above the Río Chavón. The industrialist Charles Bluhdorn (Gulf+Western) had the village designed by the Italian film architect Roberto Copa — carved stone by stone from coral limestone.
Highlights:
- Amphitheater (5,000 seats) — Frank Sinatra gave the opening concert in 1982. Today, Sting, Andrea Bocelli, and Juan Luis Guerra perform here. The acoustics in the river gorge are perfect.
- Church of St. Stanislaus — The pretty church is a popular wedding venue. Inside is a reproduction of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa.
- Archaeological Museum — Surprisingly good collection of Taíno artifacts: ceramics, stone axes, Zemí figures (god figures).
- Viewpoint — The view from the cliff over the meandering Río Chavón is spectacular, especially at sunset.
- Handicrafts — Galleries, pottery workshops, and the School of Design (Parsons School of Design branch).
Entrance: 25 USD (adults), children under 4 free. Daily 9 am–9 pm. Transfer from Punta Cana approx. 45 min. Located on the grounds of the Casa de Campo Resort in La Romana.