Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Villa de Guadalupe
The holiest Roman Catholic shrine in Latin
America is also the most visited in the world. It
was here in 1531 that an Aztec peasant named
Juan Diego claimed to have seen a vision of the
beautiful Virgin who requested that a chapel be
built. Over the centuries, pilgrims and the faithful
have come to worship the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Interior, Iglesia del Cerrito,
Tepeyac (Little Hill)
Top 10 Features
1 Nueva Basílica
2 Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
3 Antigua Basílica
4 Parroquia de Capuchinas
5 Museo de la Basílica de
Guadalupe
6 Parroquia de Indios
7 Capilla del Pocito
8 Tepeyac
9 Garden and Walkway
0 Carrillón
Carillón, the stone cross,
Villa de Guadalupe
Día de Nuestra
Señora de Guadalupe
(Dec 12) is a national
holiday and the
busiest day of the
year with thousands
of pilgrims making
the trip to Villa de
Guadalupe. December
is also the busiest
month.
!
Nueva Basílica
This new basilica was
consecrated in 1976. The
ground here is very soft,
and the circular design,
symbolizing the universality
of God, also helps in evenly
distributing the weight of
the church
(below)
.
The shop in the
Nueva Basílica sells
an excellent selection
of religious objects,
books, and prints.
£
Antigua Basílica
This Baroque temple
with four towers and a
central tiled dome was
consecrated in 1709.
Designed by Pedro de
Arríeta, the four domed-
towers and other design
elements are similar to
those found in the temple
of Solomon in Jerusalem.
In 1904 it became a
basilica in recognition of
the devotion of the faithful.
It was reopened
in 2000 after
being closed for
many years while
structural supp-
orts were added
to protect it from
the ever increas-
ing tilt as it sank
into the soft soil.
Food is available
from many street
vendors in the area,
but a better bet is to
eat before or after
your visit.
@
Nuestra Señora de
•
Map C2
• Plaza de las Américas 1
•
5577-6022
• Metro 6 La Villa-
Basílica
• 6am-9pm daily
•
Free; Museum 5
pesos
•
www.
virgendeguadalupe.
org.mx
Guadalupe
The original image of the
Virgin on the cloak
of Juan Diego
(right)
is mounted
high on the wall
behind the main
altar. Viewers
stand on moving
walkways that
pass below the
image.
30
Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, the famous Mexican architect, designed
the Nueva Basílica
