The Italian Legacy in the Dominican Republic

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THE ITALIAN LEGACY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 354
Another side door, on the right, presents in the upper register an image of St. Joseph and, in the lower
register, the national coat of arms with the date of independence, February 27, 1844. In the center is the coat
of arms of Msgr. Polanco Brito and the inscription:
Archbishop Hugo Eduardo Polanco Brito, First Bishop of Santiago, 1958–65, Apostolic Administrator of
Santo Domingo 1966–70, Archbishop Coadjutor of Santo Domingo 1970–75, 2nd Bishop of Higüey 1975
[…] dedicates this bronze door to Our Lady of Altagracia, August 15, 1988, Closing of the ‘Marian Year’.
In the supporting framework of the doors are found the coats of arms of the Apostolic Nuncio, BF Collaco;
Cardinal OA Beras (Octavio Antonio Beras Rojas); Bishop Pepén (Juan Félix Pepén Solimán, first Bishop of the
Diocese of Nuestra Señora de Altagracia); Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez, Archbishop of Santo
Domingo; and those of the bishops of the dioceses existing in 1988: La Vega, JA Flores (Juan Antonio Flores
Santana); Santiago, R. Adames (Roque Adames Rodríguez); San Juan de la Maguana, T. F. Reilly (Thomas
F. Reilly) and R. Connors (Renaldo G. Connors); Barahona, F. M. Rivas (Fabio Mamerto Rivas Santos); San
Francisco de Macorís, Jesús Moya (Jesús María de Jesús Moya); Mao-Montecristi, J. P. Abreu (Jerónimo Tomás
Abreu Herrera); Baní, P. Tejeda (Príamo Pericles Tejeda Rosario).
The portico is framed by a beautiful recreation of an orange tree, which, according to tradition, is where
the image of the Virgin of Altagracia first appeared. Orange tree branches adorn the intervals between center
panels and side doors. The eight central panels bear similar compositions with human figures to the right and
left of each one—except one in which a tree appears—while the main theme is worked in the center. This
design adds coherence and harmony to the whole, despite the possible stylistic monotony.
Explanatory plaque
on the doors of the
Basilica Cathedral
Nuestra Señora de
la Altagracia, Higüey
that reads: “The
Virgin of Altagracia
in her image has
miraculously chosen
Higüey as her home
since 1508; her house
is the first sanctuary in
the Americas. It was
previously located in
the old temple for four
centuries, from 1572
to 1972, when the
image was moved to
this basilica, designed
by Ar. Pierre Dupre
and J.A. Dunover de
Segonzac.
It was given in 1972
to Monsignor Juan F.
Pepén, First Bishop of
Higüey, by President
Dr. Joaquín Balaguer,
who today donates
this door on behalf of
the Dominican people
to the Altagratian
diocese, created by
Pope John XXIII in
1959. Paul VI granted
it the title of Basilica.
Inauguration of this
door, August 15,
1988, closing of the
“Marian Year.”
Artwork by sculptor
Tommaso Gismondi,
built in Italy, in the city
of Anagni, residence
of Popes during the
Middle Ages.”
© Thiago da Cunha
Doors by sculptor
Tommaso Gismondi at
the Cathedral Basilica
of Nuestra Señora de
la Altagracia in Higüey.
© Thiago da Cunha