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Basilica of Guadalupe

Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Wikimania 2015 photo no. 059 by Sebastian Wallroth CC-BY-SA-3.0.JPG
View of the new and the old basilica from the Marian square of the Americas
Basic information
Location Villa de Guadalupe, Mexico City, Mexico
Geographic coordinates 19°29′2.4″N 99°7′1.2″W / 19.484000°N 99.117000°W / 19.484000; -99.117000Coordinates: 19°29′2.4″N 99°7′1.2″W / 19.484000°N 99.117000°W / 19.484000; -99.117000
Affiliation Catholic (Roman Rite)
District Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico
Year consecrated 12 October 1976
Ecclesiastical or organizational status Minor basilica, National Shrine
Leadership Monsignor Enrique Glennie Graue
Website www.virgendeguadalupe.org.mx
Architectural description
Architect(s) José Luis Benlliure
Architectural type Church
Groundbreaking 1974
Completed 1976
Specifications
Capacity 10,000
Height (max) 42 metres (138 ft)
Dome dia. (outer) 100 metres (330 ft)

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Spanish: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) is a Roman Catholic church, basilica and National shrine of Mexico in the north of Mexico City. The shrine was built near the hill of Tepeyac where Our Lady of Guadalupe is believed to have appeared to Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. This site is also known as La Villa de Guadalupe or, in a more popular sense, simply La Villa, as it has several churches and related buildings.

The new Basilica houses the original tilma (or cloak) of Juan Diego, which holds the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. One of the most important pilgrimage sites of Catholicism, the basilica is visited by several million people every year, especially around 12 December, Our Lady of Guadalupe's Feast day.

A nearby chapel was built on the sacred site devoted to a temple for Tonantzin (Tanontsin), an important mother goddess, after the Spanish conquerors destroyed the temple.

Pilgrimages have been made to this shrine almost uninterrupted since 1531-32. In the latter year, a shrine had been constructed at the foot of Tepeyac Hill, which served the people for ninety years. It was adapted as part of the parochial sacristy of the new basilica. In 1622 a rich shrine was erected; a newer one, much richer, in 1709. Other structures of the eighteenth century connected with it are a parish church, a convent and church for Capuchin nuns, a well chapel, and a hill chapel. About 1750 the shrine got the title of collegiate, and a canonry and choir service were established. In 1754 it was aggregated to the Basilica of St. John Lateran. In 1904 it was designated as a basilica.


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