Basílica de Guadalupe

The camera looks out over the wide, paved plaza in front of the modern basilica, with the old church and the hill of Tepeyac rising behind it. Pilgrims cross the open space in small groups or long lines, and the surrounding buildings and distant city rooftops frame the scene. The scale of the plaza and the constant movement of visitors make the shrine easy to recognise.

Early morning is often the quietest and clearest time, when light falls across the plaza and the air is cooler. Around the feast day in December the square fills with crowds and colour, and evenings bring softer light and steady activity. Weather changes the mood quickly, from bright sun to rain clouds over the hill.

The shrine stands at the foot of Tepeyac in northern Mexico City and is one of the most visited Catholic sites in the world. According to tradition, the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared here to a local man, and the site has drawn pilgrims for centuries. Visitors come to attend services, see the old and new basilicas, and walk the surrounding gardens and chapels.