In 1531, a man named Juan Diego claimed he saw a vision of the Virgin Mary. The local bishop Friar Juan de Zumárraga was skeptical and asked for proof. Diego had a second vision; this time the image of the Virgin was emblazoned on a cape with which he had gathered some roses. The bishop needed no further convincing and immediately ordered a church to be built on the site of the holy visitation, atop Mount Tepeyac. Over the centuries, the devout continued to congregate here, so much so that the original 16th century church had to be replaced by a basÍlica, designed by Pedro RamÍrez Vasquez (architect of the Museo Nacional de Antropología). The cape itself is behind the altar encased in glass.
Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco