In 1927, the American
millionaire Irenee Dupond purchased 180 hectares of
land on the Hicacos Peninsula for 90 000 pesos. In
this land, over a rocky hill and by the sea shore,
he built the house he had dreamed of.
This master piece
of architecture was designed by architects Covarrocas
and Govantes, and features 11 bedrooms and bathrooms,
three spacious terraces from where to have a unique
view of the beach and gardens, seven balconies and
a private dock.
In
1932 Mr Dupont installed an organ in his property, and
it’s been alleged ever since to be the largest
privately owned organ throughout Latin America, worth
11 000 dollars. The American Millionaire used to visit
the Mansion Xanadu a few months per year, and sometimes
invited important guests and executives to discuss business
and relax.
The timber for the ceilings, stairs
and columns was brought from Santiago de Cuba, while valuable
pieces of marble from Cuba, Spain and Italy were used to
build the floors and bathrooms. The final cost of the construction
works was around 1 300 000 dollars and finished on December
30th, 1930.
In
the gardens you will find a lot of coconut trees, which
make a perfect combination with the beach shore line
bellow. Along with them you can see banana, avocado
and papaya trees. To increase the enchanting of this
paradisiacal place, parrots and cockatoos were imported
from distant lands.
The decoration is still
untouched at this magnificent house, and the valuable pieces
of china, the paintings and furniture, will amaze even the
most experienced visitor. The natural environment surrounding
the house, where the best and clearest Caribbean waters
bath the very white sand at your feet, and the breeze whispers
in the afternoons over the green gardened hill, makes this
place the perfect spot to rest, relax and appreciate the
immense blue.
The Golf course with 9 holes, built in 1931, is still
operational and works in association with the complex,
giving this way an added value to the installation.
Mr.Dupont visited Xanadu for the last time In March
1957.
On
December 12th, 1963, with Russian astronaut Valentina
Tereshkova ( the first woman to conquer the out space
) as guest of honour, The Mansion Xanadu opened as "Las
Americas" Restaurant. That same day, Irenee Dupont
passed away at the age of 85 in the US
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