Tucked away in the hills at La Romana in the Dominican Republic is this mind-boggling model village, sculpted entirely of stone.
Sitting in stark contrast to the traditional Dominican architecture, the purpose-built village of Altos de Chavón was the brainchild of a Hollywood set designer and built to look like a 16th century Mediterranean village, using the stones leftover from a blasted mountain.
It's not very well publicised and I only stumbled upon it by chance while on a shore excursion from a Caribbean cruise.
It was built by Roberto Copa, former designer of Paramount Studios, and Charles Bluhdorn, an American industrialist, on a site with great views over the Chavón River. Construction began in 1976 and the village was completed in 1982. Credit must go to the efforts of a small army of regional artisans, who handcrafted the buildings using era-appropriate techniques, including woodworking and stone-cutting, to make them as authentic as possible.
A wide variety of attractions
The highlights of the village include a scenic historic church and a wide, stone amphitheatre that can seat around 5,000 visitors. There are also bars, restaurants and shops. It sounds kitsch but it isn't, because the authentic artistry on display in the verdant settlement makes the experience of wandering around the village feel like stepping back into medieval times.
With its cobbled streets and buildings in coralline and terracotta stones blocks, it has become a cultural centre in the region. It is a meeting point for different kinds of art, where you'll find artists' studios, handicraft workshops and art galleries.
Visit its pre-Columbian museum located in front of the church where, apart from the permanent exhibition dedicated to pre-Hispanic art, they organise guided tours, exhibitions and workshops.
There is also an art school located in the hilltop village devoted to making sure that new generations of artists and artisans will learn their craft in the area.
It has an intensive program of studies that students from all over the world apply for to learn ceramic, fashion, design, and other handicrafts. Students from Altos de Chavón finish their studies in the Parsons School in New York.
At night, the setting becomes even more magical with romantic lighting on the stone plazas and dining verandas overlooking the Chavón River 300 feet below.