The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico is a major Catholic church and National Shrine. It houses the sacred cloak of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Constructed in 1709, the shrine is located north of Mexico City near Tepeyac Hill, where many believe the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego. The basilica, completed in 1974, now holds Juan Diego’s tilma (cloak).
La Villa de Guadalupe, or simply La Villa, includes several churches and related buildings. As one of Christianity’s most important pilgrimage sites, it attracts millions of visitors annually. The most significant gathering occurs on 12 December, during the Feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
A chapel built nearby replaced the ancient temple dedicated to Tonantzin Coatlaxopeuh, an indigenous mother goddess. Pilgrims began visiting the site in 1531 and continued uninterrupted. By 1532, a shrine was established at the foot of Tepeyac Hill. This original shrine served the community for ninety years and later became part of the sacristy of the new basilica.
In 1622, a wealthy shrine replaced the original, followed by a grander version in 1709. Additional 18th-century structures include a parish church, a convent for Capuchin nuns, a well chapel, and a hill chapel. The shrine received collegiate status in 1750, establishing a canonry and choir service. By 1754, it became part of the Basilica of St. John Lateran. In 1904, the church received formal designation as a basilica.
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