Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Catholic basilica in Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a shrine in Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico, composed of two main buildings: the old colonial-style basilica and a round modern structure. The contemporary part, designed by architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, features a tent-shaped roof with an open floor plan and freestanding supports, allowing visitors to view the venerated image from any point inside.
Bishop Juan de Zumárraga ordered the construction of a first chapel on Tepeyac Hill in 1532, after the indigenous Juan Diego reported that the Virgin Mary had appeared to him. The original basilica was completed in 1709, but soil subsidence in the 20th century caused it to tilt, making the construction of the new building necessary.
The shrine draws more visitors each year than any other Catholic site in the Western Hemisphere, with many pilgrims walking on their knees toward the altar. The sanctuary preserves Juan Diego's tilma, a rough cactus-fiber cloth that tradition says bears the image miraculously and has remained at the center of devotion for centuries.
The complex is open daily and offers ramps and moving walkways for visitors with walking difficulties. A conveyor belt passes behind the altar, allowing pilgrims to view the image up close without blocking the flow of people.
The eyes on the image contain tiny human figures visible under magnification, which scientists have studied since the 1950s. This reflection is said to depict a scene from 1531, imprinted on the iris fibers without detectable brushwork or external pigment layer.
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