Attraction
Museo Nacional de Antropología
Mexico's national museum of archaeology and anthropology, a 1964 building in Chapultepec whose 23 halls hold the Sun Stone and treasures from every Mesoamerican culture.
Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe
Mexico's great pilgrimage shrine at the foot of Tepeyac hill, where the 1976 basilica displays the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe beside the older baroque churches.
At a glance
- Type
- Basilica and pilgrimage site
- Area
- Villa de Guadalupe, Mexico City, Mexico
- Official site
- virgendeguadalupe.org.mx
Good to know
- Museum
- Chapels
- Daily masses
Why we recommend it
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the foot of Tepeyac hill in the north of the city, is the most important Catholic shrine in Mexico. Catholic tradition holds that the Virgin appeared here to Juan Diego in 1531 and that her image was imprinted on his cloak, or tilma. Around 20 million pilgrims are estimated to come each year, with the greatest crowds around the feast day on 12 December.
The site is a cluster of buildings rather than a single church. The modern basilica, built between 1974 and 1976 with Pedro Ramírez Vázquez among its architects, is a huge circular structure designed so that the image behind the altar can be seen from anywhere inside. To get a closer view, visitors ride moving walkways that pass beneath the altar. Next to it stands the Old Basilica, completed in 1709 to a design by Pedro de Arrieta and later redecorated in Neoclassical style with work by Manuel Tolsá. It had to be replaced because of subsidence and the growing number of pilgrims.
Climb the paths and steps up Tepeyac hill to reach the Capilla del Cerrito, built in 1649 on the spot linked with the apparitions, and the views back over the north of the city. Other buildings worth a look are the Capilla del Pocito, a rare circular baroque chapel from the late 18th century by Francisco Guerrero y Torres, the Capuchin convent church and the museum, which holds around 4,000 colonial-era artworks and objects.
This is an active place of worship. The basilica's own site lists a daily choral mass at 9:00 and a Sunday mass at 12:00 led by the cardinal, and services run through the day, so be respectful when moving around. Dress modestly. Allow two to three hours to see the basilicas, the hill chapels and the museum without hurrying. Avoid the days around 12 December unless you want to see the pilgrimage itself, when the area is extremely crowded.
The shrine is in the Villa de Guadalupe district of the Gustavo A. Madero borough, in the north of the city. The Tepeyac cemetery, laid out in 1740, lies beside the hill chapels and holds the graves of several notable Mexicans, and the basilica's website streams its main services live for those who cannot attend in person.
Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe FAQs
Why is the basilica important?
It houses the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, which Catholic tradition links to apparitions to Juan Diego in 1531, and it is Mexico's most important pilgrimage site.
How do you see the image up close?
Moving walkways pass beneath the altar of the modern basilica, giving a closer view of the image.
Who designed the modern basilica?
It was built between 1974 and 1976, with Pedro Ramírez Vázquez among its architects; it rests on 344 control piles.
When are the main masses?
The basilica's website lists a choral mass at 09:00 every day and a Sunday mass at 12:00 with the cardinal.
When is it busiest?
Around the feast day on 12 December, when millions of pilgrims arrive.
What else is there to see?
The Old Basilica, the Capilla del Cerrito on Tepeyac hill, the circular Capilla del Pocito and the basilica museum.
How long should I allow?
Two to three hours to see the main buildings, the hill chapels and the museum.
Where is the basilica?
At Fray Juan de Zumárraga 2 in Villa de Guadalupe, Gustavo A. Madero, in the north of the city.