Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey
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The Basilica of Guadalupe or Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe or Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe, is the religious catholic roman apostholic edification located in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Nuevo León in the borough/neighborhood of Colonia Independencia, just outside of downtown.
It's volume is quite smaller than its counterpart, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Mexico City, which without a doubt enjoys a bigger national and international popularity.
Year after year the church becomes the destination of thousands of faithful pilgrims, devout to the Virgin of Guadalupe, specially on the previous days to her celebrated day, December 12, date in which, at midnight (the 00:00 hours of the twelfth day of December), mariachi and traditional songs pay tribute to the Virgin, singing the mañanitas to the Guadalupana or serenata to the Virgin.
Usually, the weeks prior to the Virgin's holiday, pilgrimmages, made by faithful travelers who walk praying or chanting, and matachines who dance all the way up to the basilica, emmerge from various points of the locality (and sometimes from outside of it) to arrive to the church and pray or hear mass, in front of the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The original image is in the Mexico City's basilica.
Other notable catholic churches in the area are: Cathedral of Monterrey, La Purísima, the Chappel of the Sweet Names, La Salle, El Roble, the Sacred Heart and the Old Basilica of Guadalupe.
 Temple's entrance with the motto ¿No estoy yo aquí que soy tu Madre... ?, Spanish for Am I not here, your mother? |
 On the background, several downtown buildings. |
 Outside the Basilica, traditional candy selling shops. |
 Old Basilica og Guadalupe, less than 50 meters away from the newer Basilica. |
