The picturesque town of Altos de Chavon is located on a hill near the Chavon River. Old streets paved with stones and cobblestones, village houses, churches are an exact copy of the Spanish village of the 16th century. The buildings that make up the architectural ensemble are built of coral limestone, which shines in the rays of the sun in a golden pink color. A large number of arches, terraces and balconies makes them very picturesque.
The initiator of the construction was the Italian architect Roberto Copa. The construction lasted about 20 years and the final work was completed in 1992. This paradise place pleases tourists from all over the world! Every day a lot of vacationers come to stroll through the old streets, who can get acquainted with the traditions and culture of the Dominican Republic.
Altos de Chavon is also called the city of artists and artisans, as there is a large art academy. In this old town there are many art workshops for shops, art and jewelry galleries, where you can not only buy original designer souvenirs, but also take part in their manufacture. In the same city of artists there is a museum of archeology with a collection of pre-Columbian artifacts that were found in these surroundings. The museum exposition is considered the best and largest in the Dominican Republic.
Not far from the river is the church of St. Stanislav with a terrific fountain. The church received its name from Pope John Paul II. In 1976, he visited the Dominican Republic and left the ashes of St. Stanislav. In this church, not only Michael Jackson and Lisa-Maria Presley were married, but also Louis Alphonse, the Duke of Anjou with Maria Margarita, the Venezuelan heiress and other famous couples. This is one of the popular places for weddings, as well as a favorite place for tourists.
The highlight of this town is undoubtedly the “Greek” amphitheater, which was opened in 1982 by a concert of Frank Sinatra and Carlos Santana. An amphitheater in the open air, recreated in the Greek style can accommodate 5,000 people. Various events are held here, as well as performances by popular artists such as Julio Iglesias, Shakira, Sting and, of course, Frank Sinatra, who sponsored the construction of a huge stone amphitheater, as well as filming a number of Hollywood films on ancient Greek themes.
In addition, in Altos de Chavon you can visit many restaurants and bars serving cuisines from around the world, as well as national dishes of the Dominican Republic.
