Villa de Guadalupe
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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.
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. The shop in the Nueva Basílica sells an excellent selection of religious objects, books, and prints. Food is available from many street vendors in the area, but a better bet is to eat before or after your visit. Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, the famous Mexican architect, designed the Nueva Basílica Juan Diego was canonized in 2002, becoming the first indigenous saint in the Americas
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1. Nueva Basílica
1. Nueva BasílicaThis 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.
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2. Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
2. Nuestra Señora de GuadalupeThe original image of the Virgin on the cloak of Juan Diego is mounted high on the wall behind the main altar. Viewers stand on moving walkways that pass below the image.
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3. 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 supports were added to protect it from the ever increasing tilt as it sank into the soft soil.
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4. Parroquia de Capuchinas
4. Parroquia de CapuchinasInitially a convent for Capuchin nuns and then used as a hospital, it became a parish church in 1929.
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5. Museo de la Basílica de Guadalupe
The collections in this interesting museum are primarily of artistic religious objects related to Our Lady of Guadalupe. There are paintings, sculptures, textiles, and carvings. There is also a collection of paintings by artists including Cabrera, Villalpando, and Correa.
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6. Parroquia de Indios
6. Parroquia de IndiosThis chapel dates from 1649 and in the small sacristy on the right can be seen the remains of the foundations of the original chapel built in 1531. Juan Diego lived his final years in this place, and the chapel is frequently referred to as the Chapel of Juan Diego.
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7. Capilla del Pocito
7. Capilla del PocitoOur Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego at the spring now housed in this lovely circular chapel. Built in 1791, the dome is decorated with blue and white tiles.
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8. Tepeyac
8. TepeyacJuan Diego found the roses which appeared miraculously in winter on the top of Tepeyac, the Little Hill. Capilla del Cerrito was built in 1749 on the site. Fernando Leal painted seven murals depicting the story of the appearance of the Virgin to Juan Diego.
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9. Garden and Walkway
9. Garden and WalkwayA tiled walkway with stairs and ramps was built to direct the flow of people to the Little Hill. Near the base of the staircase leading up the hill is a lovely rose garden. The path returning from The Little Hill curves through a large garden area with fountains and statues.
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10. Carrillón
10. CarrillónThe huge stone cross at the far end of the plaza has bells that ring every hour, and has four different ways of telling time. There is a modern clock, an astronomical clock, a sun dial, and an Aztec calendar clock with 18 months of 20 days.
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