Located steps from the crucial Tepeyac hill, a visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe has potential to be a profound, moving experience. To stand on the site of so much history, culture, and legend, upon hallowed ground resplendent with irreplaceable relics is a visceral way to experience Mexican culture that is absolutely without peer or competitor. La Villa, as it is known to many Chilangos, is the primary reason to visit the Gustavo A Madero district, the Federal District’s northernmost. The vast majority of visitors are pilgrims or locals with the occasional foreign church group mixing their matching t-shirts into the throng.

Have your accommodation secure your transfer to and from La Villa, it is some distance from the mainly touristed areas and many public taxis do not fancy the long detour from their daily routes. If you do not bring cash for the excellent small shops and restaurants adjacent to the Basilicia complex there are cash points on site however be aware of bank fees and a less then ideal exchange rate. As with anywhere in Mexico City, the earlier you set out the less traffic you are likely to encounter whether by car or transit.

There is a palpable tinge of solemnity and determination in the atmosphere around the churches that feels tied to the history and spirituality of a site that has had spiritual significance since the days of Tenochtitlan. The Basilica has enhanced significance for anyone interested in the religious history of Mexico and featured some of the most venerated relics in Latin America and the World.