Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

19°29′2.4″N 99°7′1.2″W / 19.484000°N 99.117000°W / 19.484000; -99.117000
Location	Villa de Guadalupe, Mexico City
Country	Mexico
Language(s)	Spanish
Denomination	Catholic Church
History
Status	Minor Basilica National shrine
Founded	1709; 316 years ago (1709)
Dedication	Our Lady of Guadalupe
Consecrated	October 12, 1976; 48 years ago (1976-10-12)
Cult(s) present	Our Lady of Guadalupe
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	José Luis Benlliure
Architectural type	Basilica
Style	Mexican Baroque
Specifications
Capacity	10,000 (seating)
Height	42 m (138 ft)
Number of domes	1
Dome height (outer)	100 m (330 ft)
Number of towers	2
Administration
Parish	Our Lady of Guadalupe
Deanery	Guadalupana
Archdiocese	Mexico
Metropolis	Mexico
Province	Mexico

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a famous Catholic Church building in Mexico City. Its official Spanish name is Insigne y Nacional Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe. The basilica is dedicated to Mary as Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is built at the bottom of Tepeyac Hill.

This is one of the most visited holy places in the world. Every year, about 20 million people, called pilgrims, come to visit. Around December 12, which is the feast day for Our Lady of Guadalupe, about nine million people visit in just a few days.

The Tepeyac Religious Complex
Gallery
Images for kids
See also

The Tepeyac Religious Complex

The Basilica is not just one building, but a large area with several churches and chapels. This area is sometimes called the "Villa de Guadalupe."

A wide view of the Atrio de las Américas, the main plaza of the complex.

The Old Basilica

The Old Basilica is now called the Templo Expiatorio a Cristo Rey.

Inside the Old Basilica.

The church now known as the "Old Basilica" was built a long time ago. Construction started in 1695 and it opened in 1709. The architect was Pedro de Arrieta. It has four towers on its corners and a large dome covered in yellow and blue tiles.

Over time, the building began to sink because the ground underneath it was soft. It had to be repaired and redecorated. The original fancy Baroque style was replaced with a simpler Neoclassical style.

A Bombing in 1921

On November 14, 1921, a bomb hidden in a flower arrangement exploded at the main altar. The explosion damaged the altar steps and stained-glass windows.

However, the original image of the Virgin of Guadalupe was not harmed. A heavy bronze crucifix in front of the image was bent by the blast. Many people believed the crucifix protected the image. This bent crucifix is still on display today.

The New Basilica

The modern New Basilica of Guadalupe.

The original image of the Virgin of Guadalupe is kept in the New Basilica.

Because the Old Basilica was sinking and becoming unsafe, a new, modern basilica was built nearby. Construction started in 1974 and finished in 1976. The architects, including Pedro Ramírez Vázquez and José Luis Benlliure, gave it a circular shape.

The round design means that the famous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe can be seen from anywhere inside. The roof is made of copper that has turned green over time. It was built on special foundations to keep it from sinking like the old church.

To help people see the image up close without causing crowds, there is a moving walkway beneath the altar. Visitors can ride on the conveyor belt to pass in front of the image.

Many important people have visited the New Basilica, including Pope John Paul II five times and Pope Francis in 2016.

Capilla del Cerrito (Chapel on the Hill)

The Capilla del Cerrito, located on top of Tepeyac Hill.

This chapel is on top of Tepeyac Hill. It marks the spot where it is believed that Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego and where fresh flowers miraculously grew. The first chapel was built here in 1666.

The current building was constructed around 1740. Inside, there are large paintings by Fernando Leal that tell the story of the apparitions.

Capilla del Pocito (Chapel of the Little Well)

The Capilla del Pocito is known for its unique round shape.

This small chapel is near the bottom of Tepeyac Hill. It was built between 1777 and 1791 over a well of water that people believed was miraculous.

To stop the spread of sickness from people drinking the water, a temple was built over the well. The chapel is famous for its unique round shape and is considered a treasure of Baroque architecture.

Other Important Buildings

Capilla de Indios (Indian Chapel): This was one of the first chapels built on the site, finished in 1649. It was built for the native people to worship. Saint Juan Diego, the man who saw the Virgin, is said to have lived here and his remains are kept in the chapel.
Tepeyac Pantheon: This is a historic cemetery on Tepeyac Hill, next to the Capilla del Cerrito. It is the resting place of many important figures from Mexican history, including the former president Antonio López de Santa Anna.
Guadalupe Basilica Museum: Opened in 1941, this museum holds a large collection of religious art from Mexico's colonial period. It has paintings, sculptures, and other valuable items.

Gallery

Old Sanctuary of the Virgin of Guadalupe
Modern basilica
Pocito Chapel
The Capuchin Nuns' Temple
Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the new basilica
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe CDMX 2021
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe CDMX - receiving communion
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe CDMX - sprinkling of holy water
Pocito Chapel in 1888 by Nellie Bly.
Capilla del Cerrito, 1900

Images for kids

A 1709 painting showing the transfer of the Virgin's image to the sanctuary.
La Colegiata de Guadalupe (1859) by Luis Coto.
A view of the Villa de Guadalupe from a hot-air balloon, around 1855.
A postcard of the Guadalupe Basilica from 1923.
The old Capilla de Indios (Indian Chapel).
Entrance to the Tepeyac pantheon.
Temple and convent of Las Capuchinas.
A painting from the basilica's museum: The Guadalupan Assumption, c. 1731.
A 1930 painting showing the authorization for the coronation of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The crypt of Spanish singer Rocío Dúrcal is located in the basilica.