Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe known locally as La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is the most recognizable icon In Puerto Vallarta, it stands out Vallarta’s downtown skyline. It is the beloved symbol in photos, shirts, logos and postcards. This stunning church represents in a building the changes of the town, going from a small village to a big city.
In any municipality in Mexico as part of the Spanish conquest of America, you’ll find a church sited in the main square of the town so in Vallarta Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is located right across the City Hall presenting various styles: neoclassical in the main building, renaissance in the towers and the crown is reminiscent of baroque European temples. The church tower is topped with a wrought-iron crown hoisted by angels designed to resemble one worn by Empress Carlota of Mexico, who was a Belgian princess & became Empress of Mexico as the wife of Maximilian I of Mexico.
The foundations of the church were started in 1903 as a chapel but the construction of the actual church was going on and off through the years, because of the different parish priests’s tastes and ideas that appeared along the way plus a conflict between church and state known as the Cristero War. Apparently the edifice was finished in 1952 although the entire building was finally ready in 1987. The original crown on the church was damaged by weather, erosion and even an earthquake in 1995; it was replaced with a crown sculptured by the famous Jaliscan artist Carlos Terres. Inside the church there is an exceptional image of Our Lady of Guadalupe that people venerate a 1945 oil replica by Ignacio Ramirez, an artist from Guadalajara. There are works of art inside as well as the paintings that decorate the dome of the temple by the painter Daniel Lechon. The “Via Cruxis” around its inner walls, the pulpit, the confessional and the altar rail railing carved with precious wood by Mr. Martiniano Ramirez, the ancient altar of marble.
There’s always something happening around and within the church, but the most outstanding activity is Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival (also known as Feast of Guadalupe), is held every year from December 1st to the 12th. During these festivities you’ll notice a mix of both traditional Christian and Aztec motifs, young warriors dance in the streets, processions advance through the roads including lots of banners, music, singing and colorful decorated floats mainly with scenes that include the Virgin and Juan Diego, commemorating the miraculous apparition of the Virgin of Guadalupe to the indian peasant called Juan Diego on December 12th, 1531. These festivities are attended by tens of thousands, locals and visitors.
Our architectural jewel is one of the most definable images positioning Vallarta as a very charming destination where you can find a real Mexican town on the beach and at the foot of the mountain with red roofs on the white houses, cobblestone streets and bougainvillea decorating the facades. If you are going to visit the city it is a must to see this site, you will get a glimpse of one of the most important monuments of Vallarta and the spiritual center of the Catholics. You don’t need to attend mass or tour the inside of the red brick Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, but you should pause while you are strolling down the Malecon to take a photo or two of this gorgeous landmark. We have beautiful Condos, Villas & Houses available for vacation rental around this zone visit our website: www.pvparadiserentals.com
