The Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe is a kind of basilica or cathedral area in Mexico City, where there in total are 4 basilicas/cathedrals – if I remember correctly. And you can also enter three of them. The large round one at the very beginning is the ‘main attraction’, the Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe. Right next to it is another church and along a path you pass another – I assume – cathedral or church, which I don’t remember being able to enter. Immediately afterwards, however, you come to a staircase that takes you up to the third and final cathedral, from where you have a very nice view of the first two basilicas/cathedrals.

As I’m not at all religious myself and therefore tend to only look at the large central cathedral in the city, I had no idea that this basilica or the other two cathedrals existed. I had heard about it at some point, but it was a bit out of the centre and as I’m not a churchgoer, I wasn’t very interested in it. Especially because, depending on the picture, the basilica doesn’t look like much. At some point, however, I was ‘dragged’ there by a friend who wanted to show me the area and, to be honest, I was simply proved wrong.

The basilica is really beautiful, both inside and out. It is imposing and modern and a real eye-catcher. Especially from the inside. By that I mean: it’s worth the trip even if you’re not a believer. Inside, the basilica has a high roof, an incredibly large room and a honeycomb structure on the wall. Really fascinating. You can also go into a room to the left of the preacher’s lectern, where you stand on escalators and then pass a Guadalupe figure displayed behind glass. And yes, of course, everyone had their mobile phones out 😀
The cathedral right next to the basilica is also really big and more or less made of red brick. It’s not completely red, but reddish and looks very chic and pompous. It’s also really beautiful inside. High ceilings, marble and, in contrast to the basilica, a classic cathedral. I also wondered for ages whether I had balance problems or a bend in my optics until I took a closer look. The cathedral is slightly crooked. No joke. And do you know how strange it is to walk around in a building that is slightly crooked? Weeeeiiiiiirrrd!!!
When I was outside and looked back, I saw and noticed it a bit more clearly. So no, the photos don’t have a bend in the optics, the thing is slightly crooked from the ground up.

The last cathedral is reached via a kind of path. As I said, it is an area where everything is kind of together. You then walk up the steps under arches with a little ivy overhanging them, with trees to the right and left providing shade, and at the top of the cathedral you have a really nice view back over the roofs of the cathedral and the basilica below.
If you climb down the steps again and continue walking towards the ‘exit’, you will pass a kind of sculpture garden with a few figures pointing towards Jesus.

Go or not? I actually think that the Basilica de Santa María de Guadalupe is really worth seeing. Of course, only if you have time – as with so many things in Mexico City. It’s just a really big city with a lot to see. But basically, I think the basilica with its two cathedrals is absolutely worth a visit. Especially when it’s sunny. I was there in the sunshine and surrounded by green nature. Really beautiful! 😊