Basílica Nuestra Señora De La Altagracia

Located in Higüey and inaugurated in 1971, this cathedral is one of the most important religious sites in the Dominican Republic. It honors the patron saint of Dominicans, La Virgen de La Altagracia. The Basilica was built to replace an old sanctuary, where La Altagracia appeared, which dates back to 1572. It was built by French architects André-Jacques Dunoyer de Segonzac, Pierre Dupré and Pierre Domino. From Rome, the basilica was blessed by Pope John Paul II and on October 12, 1992, during his second visit to the country, John Paul II crowned the image of La Altagracia with a silver gilded diadem. Its great bronze and gold arch, which measures 226 feet in height (69 meters in height), stands out. The altar exhibits a painting of the Virgin Mary from the XVI century, which is the centerpiece of devotion. A legend says that a sick child was cured after seeing the Virgin Mary appear in an orange tree near the area and later found a painting of the Virgin under the tree. Every January 21, pilgrims from all over the country come to line up to pay their respects and make their petitions in front of the altar. These celebrations continue around the cathedral with food and drinks. Safari excursions from Punta Cana include a stop in Higüey for a tour of the cathedral.