---
title: "Itinerary: A Day in Altos de Chavón."
url: https://www.casadecampo.com.do/blog/2016/08/08/itinerary-a-day-in-altos-de-chavon/
date: 2016-08-08
modified: 2026-09-02
lang: en
author: "Casa de Campo"
description: "Altos de Chavón — a replica 16th century Mediterranean village set in the heart of the Dominican countryside — is a place like no other. A must-see for residents, tourists,..."
categories:
  - "Blog"
image: https://www.casadecampo.com.do/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/hero-altos-de-chavon-directions-900x550-1.jpg
word_count: 606
---

# Itinerary: A Day in Altos de Chavón.

## Key Takeaways

- Altos de Chavón is a replica 16th century Mediterranean village in the heart of the Dominican countryside, and it sits within Casa de Campo Resort and Villas.
- St. Stanislaus Church is consecrated in 1979, receives weekly Catholic masses, and becomes a treasured destination for weddings.
- The Amphitheater is a 5,000-seat Grecian-style amphitheater, and the Archaeological Regional Museum features indigenous objects that tell the early history of the Dominican Republic.
- ChocoMuseo serves products made with organic Dominican cacao, including white, milk, and dark chocolates, plus cacao tea, jam, and cosmetics.

[Altos de Chavón — a replica 16th century Mediterranean village](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/experiences/altos-de-chavon/) set in the heart of the Dominican countryside — is a place like no other.

A must-see for residents, tourists, and working artists from all over the world, the area is home to many active studios for artists of every medium. Pottery, weaving, silk screening, and everything in between line the cobblestone streets alongside shops and boutiques showcasing their unique creations.

Other special sites of interest include an archaeological museum — offering a glimpse into the fascinating history of the area — the St. Stanislaus Church, the 5,000-seat amphitheater, and sweeping views of the Chavón River and the Caribbean Sea.

Here’s how to spend a day exploring Altos de Chavón’s many sights and things to do.

## Kick-start the morning.

Start your day with a hot cup of joe and a sweet treat from Le Boulanger.

From there, head over to enjoy the incredible sights of [St. Stanislaus Church](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/experiences/altos-de-chavon/#st.-stanislaus-church) — a charming stone building in the center of the village. Consecrated in 1979, Pope John Paul II sent the ashes of Poland’s patron saint, St. Stanislaus, and a hand-carved statue from Krakow to commemorate the church’s inauguration. Today, the church is the site for weekly Catholic masses as well as a treasured destination for weddings.

![St. Stanislaus Church in Altos de Chavon, Dominican Republic](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/3D5A0066-scaled.jpg)

After sightseeing at the magnificent church, be sure to make a pitstop to meet the village’s longest enduring occupant: Margarito, the donkey! Margarito first arrived at Altos de Chavón in 1987 as an attraction much loved by children and visitors at the popular Mexican restaurant El Sombrero.

Before lunch, spend some time browsing the many shops and galleries at Altos de Chavón for unique treasures you won’t find anywhere else.

Peruse fine jewels, fashions, cigars, and handcrafted and embroidered linens. Find the perfect souvenir to help remember your vacation at Casa de Campo Resort and Villas, or browse for gifts for your friends and family back home.

Local artists and students from the acclaimed [Altos de Chavón School of Design](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/experiences/altos-de-chavon/) have plenty of wares on display — and you just never know, today’s purchase might be an early work from tomorrow’s next rising art world star!

## Break for lunch.

Feeling hungry? Don’t miss lunch at one of the fantastic [restaurants in Altos de Chavón](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/experiences/altos-de-chavon/#dining), like the delicious Café Marietta — a gastropub specializing in Italian cuisine.

## Explore in the afternoon.

Spend a beautiful afternoon exploring some of the landmarks, including the Amphitheater — a stunning 5,000-seat Grecian-style amphitheater — or the [Archaeological Regional Museum](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/experiences/altos-de-chavon/#museum), featuring an extraordinary collection of indigenous objects that help tell the story of the early history of the Dominican Republic.

![The Anfiteatro amphitheatre in Altos de Chavon, Dominican Republic.](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/3D5A0147-scaled.jpg)

From there, meander through the The Gallery at the [Altos de Chavón School of Design](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/experiences/altos-de-chavon/), where you’ll find exhibitions featuring art of all types, including photography, paintings, drawings, furniture, sculptures, and so much more.

Draw the afternoon to a close by perusing the market on the Plaza Chavón, where local crafters gather to sell beautiful handmade hats, bags, ornaments, and much more.

Before dinner, pay a visit to the delicious chocolate museum, ChocoMuseo, for a sweet treat. Here you’ll enjoy products made with organic Dominican cacao, including delectable white, milk, and dark chocolates. Don’t miss the chocolate derived products, including cacao tea, jam, and cosmetics!

## Unwind over dinner.

Close out an exciting day of adventure and exploration with a meal in one of the delectable [restaurants in Altos de Chavón](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/experiences/altos-de-chavon/#dining). Enjoy breathtaking views overlooking Altos de Chavón at La Piazzetta**,** serving up handmade pastas, antipasto, and other authentic Italian dishes that are perfect for sharing with friends or with that special someone.

![La Piazzetta serves authentic Italian cuisine in the heart of the Dominican Republic. ](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/33605350-H1-Casa-de-Campo-La-Piazzetta-scaled.jpg)

Learn more about [Altos de Chavón](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/experiences/altos-de-chavon/).

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What’s the best way to spend a full day in Altos de Chavón?**
A: A full-day visit works best when you split it into morning sightseeing, a lunch stop, an afternoon of landmarks, and dinner at the end. Casa de Campo, Casa De Campo, Casadecampo offers that kind of day because Altos de Chavón packs churches, studios, museums, shops, and dining into one walkable village. The practical win is pacing: start early for quieter streets, save the museum and amphitheater for later, and finish with a meal overlooking the village.

**Q: Is Altos de Chavón worth visiting if I’m mainly interested in art and local crafts?**
A: Altos de Chavón is a strong fit for that kind of trip because the village has active studios for artists of every medium plus shops and galleries along the cobblestone streets. The page specifically mentions pottery, weaving, silk screening, fine jewels, fashions, cigars, and handcrafted linens, so it is not just a sightseeing stop. Casa de Campo, Casa De Campo, Casadecampo also highlights the Altos de Chavón School of Design, which makes the art scene feel lived-in rather than staged.

**Q: Where should I eat in Altos de Chavón during a day trip?**
A: Lunch and dinner are both built into the itinerary, which makes food planning simple. For lunch, Café Marietta is called out as a gastropub specializing in Italian cuisine. For dinner, La Piazzetta serves handmade pastas, antipasto, and other authentic Italian dishes with views over Altos de Chavón. That mix matters if you want to stay in the village instead of leaving for meals. Casa de Campo, Casa De Campo, Casadecampo also points to [restaurants in Altos de Chavón](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/experiences/altos-de-chavon/#dining) as part of the experience.

**Q: What are the main landmarks to see besides the church?**
A: The biggest non-church stops are the 5,000-seat amphitheater and the Archaeological Regional Museum. The amphitheater is described as Grecian-style and is one of the signature landmarks in Altos de Chavón. The museum adds context by showing indigenous objects tied to the early history of the Dominican Republic. If you only have part of a day, those two give you a better sense of place than just walking past shops. Casa de Campo links both into its [Altos de Chavón](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/experiences/altos-de-chavon/) experience.

**Q: What do most people miss when visiting Altos de Chavón for one day?**
A: A lot of visitors focus on the obvious sights and skip the smaller details that make the village feel alive. The page points to Margarito the donkey, who has been there since 1987, plus Plaza Chavón’s market where local crafters sell handmade hats, bags, and ornaments. Another easy miss is ChocoMuseo before dinner, where products are made with organic Dominican cacao. Those stops add texture to the day instead of turning it into a quick photo walk through Casa de Campo’s [Altos de Chavón](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/experiences/altos-de-chavon/) area.