Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe

BasíLica Menor · Santuario Mariano · Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México

The most visited Catholic shrine in the world, with more than 20 million pilgrims a year, on the hill of Tepeyac in northern Mexico City. Tradition says an indigenous man, Juan Diego, met the Virgin here in December 1531 and carried her image back on his cloak, or tilma. That cloak hangs above the altar of the modern basilica, which Pedro Ramirez Vazquez designed in 1976 as a round hall so everyone can see it, with moving walkways below so the line never stops. The old basilica of 1709 stands beside it, visibly leaning as it sinks into the lake bed, and it now houses a museum. The hill behind has chapels, gardens and a quiet view. Entry is free, no matter your faith, with no ticket needed, and the Metro stops nearby on Line 6 at La Villa-Basilica. Sundays and 12 December, the feast day, bring huge crowds; weekday mornings give calm and a reflective visit, and a guide or audio talk adds the history.

Plaza de las Américas 1, Villa de Guadalupe, Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México, 07050, Mexico

⚠ FREE and open to everyone, of any faith or none - there is no admission charge to the plaza, the basilica, the old basilica or the chapels on Tepeyac, and anyone charging you does not work here. Open daily, from early morning to evening. ⚠ MASS IS CELEBRATED MANY TIMES A DAY AND THE BASILICA IS NEVER NOT IN USE - check the schedule before travelling, because DURING MASS THE MOVING WALKWAYS BENEATH THE TILMA MAY BE PAUSED and movement in the nave is restricted. The tilma is viewed from those walkways, which run continuously and cannot be stopped; you get roughly twenty seconds, and riding round again is entirely normal. ⚠ 12 DECEMBER AND THE DAYS AROUND IT ARE A PILGRIMAGE OF OVERWHELMING SCALE - millions attend and the surrounding streets close. Come deliberately for it or avoid that fortnight. Sundays are very busy. ⚠ DO NOT PHOTOGRAPH PEOPLE PRAYING, and never during Mass; pilgrims crossing the plaza on their knees are not scenery. Metro Line 6 to La Villa-Basílica is easier than driving.

Official website

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