Mexico Guide
Oaxaca
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, built between 1682 and 1690, is one of Mexico's most important religious sites. It contains an statue of the Virgen de la Soledad – Oaxaca's patron saint, and one of the most revered in the country. The story goes that in 1620, when an statue of the Virgin was found in the backpack of a mule en route to Guatemala, the Virgin miraculously appeared. The basilica here was consequently constructed in her honour. The diamond-encrusted crown that adorns the statue of the Virgin inside the basilica is a replica of the original, which was stolen during the 1980s. The sumptuously decorated church, built in the late seventeenth century but with a more recent facade, is set on a small plaza surrounded by other buildings associated with the Virgin's cult. It's a peaceful spot to watch Oaxaqueño life unfold over an ice cream or sorbet, both of which are sold in a beguiling variety of flavours at a cluster of stands – try tuna (cactus) and mescal in combination. The adjoining Plaza de la Danza is the setting of outdoor concerts, folklórico performances and specialist craft markets. Ramshackle stalls behind the ice cream vendors sell brightly coloured religious icons.