Pilgrimage to the Basílica de Guadalupe: Mexico's Most Revered Shrine

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (officially Insigne y Nacional Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe) is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and marks the place where she is said to have appeared to Juan Diego. It sits at the foot of Tepeyac Hill in the Villa de Guadalupe district of northern Mexico City.

Today’s religious complex includes several chapels, the historic “Old Basilica,” and the modern circular basilica completed in the 1970s to accommodate the huge number of pilgrims and visitors. Together, they make this one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the world, drawing around twenty million visitors every year, especially in December.

The Story of Juan Diego

According to legend, the story begins on the morning of December 9, 1531. Juan Diego, an Indigenous Chichimeca man who had recently converted to Catholicism, was walking across Tepeyac Hill on his way to Mass in what is now Mexico City when an apparition of a young woman appeared to him.

Speaking to him in his native Nahuatl language (Aztec), she identified herself as the mother of the true God (The Virgin Mary) and asked him to go to the bishop of Mexico and request that a church be built on that spot so people could come to her for comfort and help.

Juan Diego did as he was told and went to see Bishop Juan de Zumárraga, describing what he had seen and the request for a church. The bishop did not fully believe The Virgin Mary would appear to a poor indigenous man and asked for a sign before he would agree.

Juan Diego returned to Tepeyac Hill and The Virgin appeared to him again. As proof to the bishop, she instructed him to gather Castilian roses on the hillside, roses that were not native to the region. Diego found the roses growing among the rocks, despite it being winter. He cut them and placed them inside his tilma, a simple cloak woven from cactus fiber.

He then returned to the bishop. When he opened his tilma to present the roses, they fell to the floor, revealing the image of The Virgin on the fabric inside. That image convinced the bishop, who ordered that a chapel (and later a larger church) be built at Tepeyac in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Why The Virgin of Guadalupe

She is called the Virgin of Guadalupe because some believe she said the Nahuatl word Coatlaxopeuh when speaking to Juan Diego, which sounded like “Guadalupe” to the Spanish. Over time, “Our Lady of Guadalupe” became a symbol of unity between Indigenous and Spanish cultures, representing a Virgin Mary who came to the Americas and used a name meaningful to both worlds. It grew into a powerful symbol of faith and identity in Mexico.

What Is a Tilma, and Where Is the Image?

A tilma (also called an ayate) is a coarse cloak traditionally woven from the fibers of the maguey (agave) cactus. Textiles made from this material normally deteriorate within a few decades, most often 20–60 years. Remarkably, the tilma has survived for almost 500 years, despite its fragile material and centuries of exposure. The figure of Mary is nearly life-size (about 5½ feet tall) and faces outward, so that when Juan Diego opened his cloak, the image would have been clearly visible to the bishop and those present.

How the Tilma Is Displayed Today

Today, Juan Diego’s tilma is displayed in the modern basilica, hanging above the main altar, protected behind bulletproof glass. Visitors do not line up directly in front of it, but ride on a moving walkway that glides underneath the image, giving everyone an unobstructed view while keeping the area from becoming overly crowded.

The Original Basilica

A series of early chapels and churches were built. In order to accommodate more worshipers, the original Basilica, or Templo Expiatorio a Cristo Rey, was built and completed in 1709, near the site of the earlier sanctuaries.

This Baroque church became the main place of worship for 267 years. Pilgrims, people who travel specifically for religious reasons, often on foot, with prayer, penance, and devotion as part of the journey, came to pray and see the tilma imprinted with the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Over the centuries, more and more pilgrims and other visitors came to Tepeyac as news of the apparitions spread beyond Mexico to the rest of Latin America and the Catholic world.

Meanwhile, Mexico City was sinking due to heavy groundwater extraction across the city. The Old Basilica, built on a soft former lakebed, began to tilt and crack as the ground beneath it settled unevenly. Rather than demolish it, engineers stabilized and reinforced the structure so it could be preserved. After extensive work, the Old Basilica was reopened and today is used for smaller Masses and special celebrations.

The New Basilica

By the 20th century, the Old Basilica could no longer safely handle the crowds. So a new, larger structure was built next to the original, and finished in 1976. Its circular design accommodates the large numbers of pilgrims and visitors, while offering unobstructed views of the altar and the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe from anywhere inside the church. Sources suggest it will hold more than 10,000 worshippers. The design is often compared to a large tent or cloak, symbolizing The Virgin’s protection over those who come to her.

Today, when people talk about visiting the Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe (or simply “La Basílica”), they usually mean the larger modern church that houses Juan Diego’s tilma.

The surrounding grounds include:

• Outdoor chapels and prayer spaces
• A large plaza for cultural and religious events
• Tepeyac Hill gardens and statues depicting the apparitions
• A museum featuring religious art and artifacts

December 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The biggest celebration of the year takes place on December 12, or the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe). This celebration commemorates the final apparition and the sign of the roses and The Virgin’s image on Diego’s tilma. Pilgrims arrive from all over Mexico and beyond to honor The Virgin.

It’s a powerful experience that blends Catholic devotion with Indigenous heritage. For many Mexicans, Our Lady of Guadalupe is not just a religious figure; she is a symbol of national identity and hope, officially recognized by the Catholic Church as the Patroness of the Americas.

Visiting Basílica de Guadalupe

The Basílica de Guadalupe is located in Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo, in northern Mexico City.

Getting there

• Metro: Take Line 6 to La Villa-Basílica station. From there, it is about a two-block walk north along Calzada de Guadalupe to the main entrance and plaza.
• Uber / App-Based Ride / Taxi: Rideshare and authorized taxis can drop you near the main plaza or one of the nearby streets. This is often the easiest option if you are coming from neighborhoods like Polanco, Condesa, or Centro. Allow extra time for traffic, especially on weekends and near December 12
• Guided Tour: Many city tours include the basilica. This can be helpful if you prefer a structured visit.
• Driving: There are parking areas near the basilica complex, but city traffic and navigation can be stressful if you are not used to Mexico City driving.

Hours, Masses, and Confessions

These are guidelines. Check the official basilica website’s “Horarios” page before you go.

• The complex opens early, around 6:00 a.m.
• Masses are held throughout the day in the new basilica and other chapels.
• Confessions are usually held from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you want a confession in English or other language, ask at the information desk when you arrive.

Other Tips

• Best time to visit: Weekday mornings to avoid large crowds
• December 11–12: Expect enormous crowds, security checks, and long walks
• Dress Code: Covered shoulders and footwear are required inside.
• Photography: Allowed in the basilica but not always near the tilma
• Safety: Abide by usual big-city precautions: keep valuables secure and be mindful in crowds.

Visitors also explore:

• Tepeyac Hill - Where the apparitions are said to have taken place, with panoramic views of Mexico City
• The Capilla del Cerrito - Location of the first chapel
• Capilla de Indios – Includes the foundation of the original chapel
• Old Basilica (Templo Expiatorio a Cristo Rey) – The restored Baroque church that housed the tilma for centuries
• Museo de la Basílica de Guadalupe – A museum with religious art and objects connected to the history of the Basilica
• Markets selling devotional items, rosaries, and candles

Whether you arrive as a pilgrim carrying roses or as a traveler curious about Mexico’s history, a visit to the Basílica de Guadalupe is not just another sightseeing stop. It is a window into how a single story, told on a simple cloak, shaped a nation’s spiritual life, and continues to draw people from all over the world to the foot of Tepeyac Hill.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Basílica de Guadalupe

1. Where is the Basílica de Guadalupe located? The Basílica de Guadalupe is in the Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo district in northern Mexico City, at the foot of Tepeyac Hill.

2. Who was Juan Diego? Juan Diego was an Indigenous Chichimeca man who converted to Catholicism and is said to have experienced several apparitions of the Virgin Mary in December 1531.

3. Why is she called the Virgin of Guadalupe? Some believe the Virgin used a Nahuatl word, Coatlaxopeuh, when speaking to Juan Diego, which sounded like “Guadalupe” to the Spanish. The name is considered a symbol linking Indigenous and Spanish cultures.

4. What is a tilma? A tilma is a cloak woven from agave fibers. Juan Diego’s tilma, which bears the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, has survived for almost 500 years, more than 400 years longer than typical fabrics of this kind.

5. Where is the tilma displayed today? The tilma hangs above the main altar in the modern basilica, protected behind armored glass. It can be seen from anywhere within the church.

6. What is the difference between the Old Basilica and the New Basilica? The Old Basilica, completed in 1709, served as the main place of worship for centuries but developed structural issues due to sinking in Mexico City. The New Basilica, completed in 1976, was built next to it to accommodate large crowds and provide an unobstructed view of the tilma.

7. What happens on December 12? December 12 marks the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, when millions of pilgrims visit the basilica for processions, songs, Masses, and celebrations honoring the Virgin.

8. What is the best way to get to the basilica? Visitors can arrive by Metro (Line 6 to La Villa-Basílica), ride services or taxis, guided tours, or personal vehicles.

9. When is the best time to visit the basilica? Weekday mornings are usually the least crowded.

10. What are the visiting hours? The basilica complex usually opens around 6:00 a.m. daily. Masses run throughout the day, and confessions are commonly offered from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Schedules vary, so check the basilica’s official website before visiting.

11. Is photography allowed? Photography is permitted throughout the basilica complex, although restrictions apply near the tilma itself. Visitors are asked to be respectful and avoid using a flash.

References/More Information

• Vatican canonization of Juan Diego (2002)
• Basílica de Guadalupe official website
• Archdiocese of Mexico – basilica history