⛪ Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia Higüey
Dominican Republic
About This Sacred Site
The Basilica of Our Lady of La Altagracia in Higüey is the most sacred religious site in the Dominican Republic, housing a 16th-century painting of the Virgin Mary that is the object of intense devotion. Designed by French architects André-Jacques Dunoyer de Segonzac and Pierre Dupré, the striking modernist basilica was completed in 1971. Millions of pilgrims visit annually, especially on January 21st, the feast day of La Altagracia.
Key Facts
- •The miraculous painting of Our Lady of Altagracia dates to the 16th century
- •The modernist basilica was completed in 1971, replacing the original colonial church
- •January 21st, the feast of La Altagracia, is a national holiday in the Dominican Republic
- •The basilica's distinctive arch-shaped entrance rises 69 meters high
- •Pope John Paul II crowned the image of La Altagracia during his 1992 visit
Location
Coordinates: 18.6153, -68.7078
Related Holy Sites
Sacred places connected by country, religion, and purpose
⛪Cathedral of Santa María la Menor
The oldest cathedral in the Americas, built in the early 16th century in Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone.
🏛️Altos de Chavón
A recreated 16th-century Mediterranean village with a church blessed by Pope John Paul II.
⛪Vatican City (St. Peter's Basilica)
The spiritual center of Roman Catholicism and home of the Pope.
✝️Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The site where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected.
