Higuey

Higuey, the chief town of the province of La Altagracia lies at the confluence of the Río Duey and Río Yuma on the eastern side of the Dominican Republic. Its imposing basilica is one of the leading pilgrimage centers in Latin America.

The modern Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia is the center of religious activity in the area and one of the Carribean's finest examples of modern religious architecture. Commonly known as Higuey Basilica, it is also one of the most visited buildings in this Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation.

The Higuey Basilica was officially inaugurated on January 21, 1971, and has been named a national monument by the Dominican government, and declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul IV. Designed by the French architects A. Dunoyer de Segonzac and Pierre Dupré, this contemporary concrete structure is dominated by a 75m-high (248') central arch. To highlight the architecture of the Basilica, a lighting scheme was completed in September 2002, bathing the gray concrete in bright colors at night.

One in every twelve Dominicans are named Altagracia in honor of the patron saint. Every year, on January 21, aproximately a million people make the pilgrimage to the Basilica.