To be honest, Basílica de Guadalupe was not originally my list of places to visit when I was…read morevacationing in Mexico City last month and almost missed it (it just wasn't on our radar when we were planning our trip). But luckily a friend of mine (who is a local) had suggested meeting here and am glad that she had. And because she actually went to the private all girl Catholic school many years ago (she told me that private schools of one gender is no longer allowed in Mexico) that is right behind the old basilica, she knew this place very well and gave us a fabulous and well informed tour. For those of you unfamiliar with the history, Juan Diego, an Indigenous Native America, who was poor, had seen a vision of the Virgin Mary. She actually appeared to him 4 times. She had told him to tell the priest to build a church in her honor on Tepeyac Hill (where she appeared to him). The priest did not believe Juan Diego and so he asked for him to show proof of the Virgin Mary, in which she had given him roses to bring to the priest. What is very unique about this is that these roses normally do not grow during that specific season and is also not native to Mexico. Also on his tilma (or cloak) had an image of the Virgin Mary that appeared. The image was not painted or printed on. Religious leaders see this as a miracle. But also what is miraculous is that the tilma has survived a nitric acid spill and also a bomb blast in 1921 that destroyed the alter but somehow the cloth was spared and left untouched/ undamaged. So there is both an old basílica and a new basílica that you can visit (which is free). The old basílica is the original church that was built in honor of the Virgin Mary. Construction began in 1531 and finished in 1709. This was the original place of where the tilma was hung for display. But because most of Mexico City was built on an emptied lakebed, the ground is sinking, which has caused for uneven ground/ structure that has caused for the building to be tilted. So when you walk inside here, you will notice the shift, so be careful if you decide to walk up to the alter and sit in one of the pews in the front. Because of this, the tilma was moved to the new basillica. Please note that it is safe to enter the building. This old basillica was closed to the public in 1974 (and reopened in 2000) so that it could be constructed on so that it could be safe for the public. The new basillica is large and very round, looks like a stadium. This was built in 1974 and was completed in 1976. Pedro Ramirez Vasquez was the architect of this beautiful sanctuary. What is really amazing and thoughtful about this sanctuary and shape is that no matter where you sit, you have a view of the tilma at the alter. Church services occur every hour and last about 40 minutes for those that are interested in attending. If you wish to get a closer view of the tilma, you can walk down to the viewing area and look up to see it. Nearby this area is also the gift shop in which you can purchase prayer cards, holy water, etc. but you can also purchase religious souvenirs at other places throughout the grounds. There are also other points of interests to walk to on the grounds here but I just wanted to highlight these 2 main sanctuaries. My husband, our friend and I were here for about 3 hours, as we walked everywhere and really took our time to see everything. If you wish to view nearly everything, make sure you bring some sturdy and comfortable walking shoes. Please note that there are bathrooms but require a small fee. I did not use them but I did see a sign for $10 MXN but there are also bathrooms right before entering the grounds here but did not use them and so I am unsure of the price. Overall, we had a wonderful visit and am really glad our friend had suggested it. I think if we came without her, we would not have know as much and would not have appreciated this site as much either.

This is a beautiful spot to visit and you can spend 2-3 hours visiting all the different parts of…read morethe complex. We were able to witness a mass, which was so special. We saw many people making the pilgrimage on their knees. If you don't know the history, the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City is the world's most-visited Catholic pilgrimage site, drawing millions annually to honor the Virgin of Guadalupe. Located at Tepeyac Hill, it marks the 1531 site where the Virgin Mary appeared to Indigenous convert Juan Diego, leaving her miraculous image on his cloak.

This church sits on the northern end of the Plaza de Santo Domingo, a remnant of the Dominican…read moremonastery in the same location originally built in 1526, after the Spanish invasion and subsequent construction of European-styled architecture. The current building is the third iteration built in the 1800s in the same location and considered to be in the Mexican Baroque style with neoclassical elements (such as the main altar) within. Walking into the church initial impression is it feels a bit more austere than some other nearby historic churches since most of the gold, flowery finishes of the altars are inset within the mini chapels on either side of the pews, not immediately visible until you walk up closer. Shaped in the traditional cross formation with main altar at the apse, especially noteworthy are the altars on the right and left transepts, more ornate and arresting with paintings and figures of saints framed by twisting gold columns and filigree. On a Saturday mid-day in January, the church was pretty empty, a few tourists walked in while I was there though otherwise very quiet. There's no admission charge though donations are accepted. For more info: https://www.mexicocity.cdmx.gob.mx/venues/temple-of-santo-domingo/?lang=en

I attended 1.5 masses here on Sunday with my boyfriend and his mother and sister. I say 1.5 because…read morewe arrived 15 mins late for the first mass (which starts at 8 am) and his mom didn't want to take communion because we arrived late so we also stayed for the 9 am mass. Each mass was 45 minutes and had 40 or 50 attendees. I'm not Catholic (was raised Lutheran) and I'm not fluent in Spanish (intermediate level) but I really enjoyed the service and I was able to follow along thanks to the bulletin. I did not feel out of place at all; I felt very welcome. I recommend the 9 am mass because that one had a lovely acoustic guitar choir (4 or 5 guys). There were also 2 elementary school girls (altar girls) helping the priest - that was very sweet to see. I did not take communion. The building is very interesting, as it used to be a convent. If you are at all interested in Catholicism, spirituality, comparative religion, or Mexican culture I highly recommend attending mass here. But of course you can just stop by and view the beautiful church! The main altar has marble columns and gold detailing. There are numerous side altars, the most fascinating being the one dedicated to El Señor del Rebozo, who helps women who want to get married! Women looking for a spouse or partner bring their shawls (rebozos) and other items here (one women even left a framed copy of her bachelor's degree diploma). The altar is covered in bright, colorful shawls. I even saw some men praying at this altar, maybe praying for their daughters or sisters. When we exited the church a small market was setting up in the plaza.

An old chapel abuts a massive and beautiful courtyard (that was protected from the elements by a…read moregiant canopy) so you can go straight from a staid Catholic wedding ceremony to tequila shots and a lively dance floor in minutes. Talking to other locals it sounds like this is one of the premier (and I'm sure pricey) wedding venues in Mexico City.

Beautiful church to visit if you're in the area. It's one of the oldest in Mexico. You can light…read morecandles for loved ones as well.

If you're in Coyoacan for the Frida attractions, don't sleep on this beautiful church. The…read morecobblestone square, the bell tower, the interior with its ornate altar and ceiling frescoes! So much to look at! And - as with almost everything in Mexico City - there's so much history here: the church was constructed upon the site of a former school for the sons of Aztec mobility (the ruins are still beneath the cloister)! It's stunning and worth a visit if you're in the area.