Visitors to Punta Cana and La Romana have a new reason to stop by the Basilica La Altagracia, the largest church in the Dominican Republic. A new museum on the premises of the church showcases valuable donations made by Virgin Mary believes in religious art, wax, wood and jewelry. <\/p>\n
The museum will be around half an hour away from most Punta Cana hotels and easily accessible once the new Coral Highway goes into operation this summer. <\/p>\n
The museum has six exhibition halls, an auditorium, an audiovisual hall, a laboratory and a mirador overlooking the Basilica. Among the exhibits is one of 16 medallions in oval format tell about life in the times of the Spanish colony. <\/p>\n
Dominican museum specialist Margarita Gonzalez worked closely with Argentinean museum specialist Sergio Barbieri to prepare the exhibits.<\/p>\n
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Tickets are RD$200 adults, and children RD$50. <\/p>\n
Monsignor Nicanor Pena Rodriguez, Bishop of Higuey, says the museum is a collection of testimony of the Catholic history and artistical-cultural expressions of the Dominican people in their devotion to the Virgin Mary. “It is not a warehouse for innate objects, but rather a greenhouse that transmits throughout time the genius and spirituality of the community of believers,” he said during the inaugural last week with the attendance of President Leonel Fernandez. <\/p>\n
The museum was funded 70% by the Dominican government and 30% by the private sector and the Catholic Church. The museum is located on the grounds of the Basilica and cost RD$200 million.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Visitors to Punta Cana and La Romana have a new reason to stop by the Basilica La Altagracia, the largest church in the Dominican Republic. A new museum on the premises of the church showcases valuable donations made by Virgin Mary believes in religious art, wax, wood and jewelry. The museum will be around half … <\/p>\n