Altos de Chavón: a Mediterranean village above the Chavón river

Despite looking centuries old, Altos de Chavón was built in the 1970s by Italian master designer Roberto Coppa and architect José Antonio Caro as an artists' village. The craftsmanship is the point: hand-laid coral stone, wrought iron, and terracotta that have weathered into something that genuinely feels historic.

Today it is home to the Regional Museum of Archaeology, the Church of St. Stanislaus, artisan workshops and galleries, restaurants, and shops, all wrapped around little plazas and viewpoints.

The 5,000-seat Grecian-style amphitheater, inaugurated in 1982 with a Frank Sinatra concert, is the showpiece and a striking photo location whether or not an event is on. From the village edge you also get dramatic overlooks of the Chavón river canyon below.

Those river views are the postcard shot of Altos de Chavón, and the warm stone glows beautifully in the late afternoon — the same golden light we chase on the beach excursions.

Altos de Chavón sits near La Romana, about an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half west of Punta Cana. It is often combined with a wider La Romana or Casa de Campo excursion, sometimes alongside a stop at a beach or Catalina Island.

Entrance to the village itself is generally straightforward; allow a couple of unhurried hours to wander the lanes, browse the artisan shops, see the church and amphitheater, and take in the viewpoints.

The cobbled streets, ivy-covered walls, and stone archways are made for portraits, so slow down and look for framed compositions through doorways and arches. The church plaza and the river overlook are the two can't-miss backdrops.

Comfortable shoes help on the uneven stone, and the warm tones of the village pair well with earthy or jewel-toned outfits. A Goey Pictures photographer can turn the village into a full portrait set the way we do on the day trips.