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During the Casa de Campo high season, Dominican Minister of Culture José Antonio Rodríguez, not only joined us in Casa de Campo for a few of the celebrations, but also for a visit and private tour of “La Fortaleza”, which will be opening as a new cultural village later this year.
The exciting “Aldea Cultural Santa Rosa de Lima” (cultural village) project began last February, when Vicepresident of the Dominican Republic, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, among other dignitaries, took part in a ceremony to launch the transformation, which will see the old “La Fortaleza” prison converted into a cultural village.
On a tour of the location, Dominican Minister of Culture José Antonio Rodríguez was joined by Dominican fashion designer, Casa de Campo villa owner and business woman, Jenny Polanco. According to Jenny Polanco, the cultural village will not only become a popular place for tourists to visit – but will also be a place where Dominican artisans can develop their skills, as well as sell their crafts.
As José Antonio Rodríguez toured the area with us he spoke of his hopes and plans for the project to become “part of La Romana, something which the town can take ownership of”.
Rendering of the future “Aldea Cultural Santa Rosa de Lima” in La Romana
According to José Antonio Rodríguez, the first phase of the project is to open a new cultural school during March of this year. This school will basically be the re-location of the Casa de la Cultura currently located on the intersection of the Francisco Richiez St. and Duarte St. in La Romana. The Casa de la Cultura offers youngsters of the greater La Romana area the opportunity to enjoy a variety of cultural pursuits, such as music and art.
Later phases will include an outdoor amphitheater for theatrical and musical productions, workshops where local artisans will create Dominican handicrafts, and a store to sell these items.
Tourists from across the Dominican Republic are expected to visit the new cultural village once it is opened, but it will be especially popular with tourists arriving on cruiseships to the La Romana – Casa de Campo port, who will be able to walk there from their ship.