It is said that St. Juan Diego had four visions of the Virgin Mary. The local bishop only believed Juan Diego’s words (that she wished for a shrine dedicated in her image on the hill) when he saw proof of it. Upon opening his tilma (cloak), Juan Diego found an image of the Virgin on the inside after fulfilling a task she had given him. This convinced the bishop that Juan Diego had indeed seen her in his visions, and that is how the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Virgin Mary) was built. When you head here, you will be greeted by the awe-inspiring sight of the old basilica from 1709, along with the new one which now houses the original image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She has since long been the patron saint of Mexico City.

Did you know that the tilma is well-protected behind bulletproof glass? A bomb was placed a few feet away from it in the early 20th century, but the fabric itself suffered no damage. The basilicas - new and old - stand side by side, and both are impressive for different reasons. The Old Basilica has a stunning Doric interior along with marble statues. The façade is no less amazing. However, the foundations of the basilica were sinking rapidly, prompting the construction of the new basilica which looks more like a massive stadium. But that is secondary, of course, considering that it is designed around the revered tilma found within.