Refreshing! The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad | How to visit Oaxaca

Magic and charm distinguish the city of Oaxaca. From a cultural intersection between Latin America and Europe, buildings such as churches, cathedrals, convents, and monasteries emerged in Oaxaca. Each and everyone incorporates pre-Hispanic influences as well as Spanish and Dominican ideologies. There is a great variety of styles in the churches of Oaxaca, of what Oaxaca is known for. Some have very elaborate designs, while others are gloomy and subdued. The oldest churches date back to the 16th century and exhibit strong contrasts in their architecture. This is the case of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad. The Historic Center, where the basilica is located, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.

• Google Maps: 17.063364, -96.729898
• Av.de la Independencia 107, CALZADA MADERO, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax.
• Telephone: 951 516 5076

In the center of Oaxaca lies a cultural heritage and national jewel of great traditional and religious importance. It is one of the most important and recognizable religious sites in Oaxaca. Just six blocks from the zocalo is the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, a large and impressive church dating from the late 17th century (1718). In it is kept the statue of the Virgen de la Soledad, the patron saint of Oaxaca, of what Oaxaca is known for, who is commonly known as La Soledad, is Our Lady of Soledad, protector of this city.

A place full of tradition

Coquettish, beautiful, and elegant, this is how this basilica is. It stands out for its viceregal architecture and for the massive number of parishioners who visit it every year. This church is undoubtedly one of the most representative in the state.

It is located in the heart of the city and next to the Municipal Palace and the Ex-Convent of San José and the Convent of the Augustinian Mothers or Hijas de Santa Mónica until 1867. Later this last building was the hospice of Vega, School of Arts and Trades, Civil Registry File. It is currently the Municipal Palace.

Likewise, the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad is surrounded by the Socrates Garden, the dance square, and a small market where you can enjoy traditional Oaxacan snow to cool off. With flavors from passion fruit to worms and mezcal. You can also see various urban musicians displaying their talents with traditional music from the region.

Image by Dan Nevill

The Basilica building was built from 1682 to 1690. Bishop Sariñana y Cuenca consecrated it, while the works were in charge of the Bethlehem friar Sebastián de San Felipe. The current façade was installed in 1718. Everything was under the moral and economic support of Bishop Ángel Maldonado.

A bit of its history and folklore

Within his folklore and the reason why the location of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad was given is based on the moment when a muleteer was on his way through Oaxaca from Veracruz noticed that he had won an extra mule in somewhere. When the bags from the mule were removed, the mule died quickly.

The mule collapsed at the site of La Soledad. A legend on the bag says “The Virgin of Solitude at the feet of Christ.” The bags also contained an image of the “Virgin of Solitude” with Christ at her feet. A temple was built to honor the divine event, and the event was taken as a sign of divinity.

Details of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad

Since Our Lady of Solitude is the patron and protector of Oaxaca, of what Oaxaca is known for. This place is one of the most popular religious places in the city as it stands out for its viceregal architecture and the many parishioners who visit it every year.

This 17th-century church has an impressive entrance with a baroque design that contains intricate carvings, with neoclassical nuances, since in the 18th century it was completed with its internal construction. Inside it preserves neoclassical altarpieces. There are paintings of European origin from the 18th century. In the altar is the niche where the image of the Virgin of Solitude is. A year after its completion in 1689, the Archbishop of Isidro Sariana consecrated La Soledad in 1697.

Facade of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad

The facade of the church is built in the form of an arch or screen. It is made up of four levels and seven rows, with stone statues. They are saints carved in yellow quarry each: Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Augustine, Saint Rose of Lima, the Virgin Mary crying next to the cross. However, what stands out the most is the announcement of the Archangel Gabriel to Mary, who is about to conceive the savior.

In the second body, we find a carved image of the Virgin at the foot of the cross, along with a skull. In the background, Jerúsalen is represented. Then, at the extremes, are two angels.

One of them has a cloak with the face of Christ, in addition to the images of Santa Ana, San Joaquí, San Juan Evangelista, Santa Lucia, San Sebastían, Santa Isabel, San Nicolás Bari and San Nicolás Tolentino.

On the outskirts

The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad has two entrances, on the side and the main entrance in the shape of an arch. This gives it strength and structure to withstand in the event of an earthquake. The entire church is built to avoid collapse in the event of an earthquake. As well as two bell towers, which are not part of the facade but stand out from the construction.

The atrium is huge, it is adorned with the traditional green quarry, an emblem of the state of Oaxaca, of what Oaxaca is known for. The atrial cross is imposed at the entrance and gives an impetus to harmony. It is in a pink quarry and Liz flowers are carved around it. It was made already in the 21st century.

Here in the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad we also find a museum, where they detail the history of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad in more depth, how it came to the place and how this temple consecrated to the Virgin was built, as well as part of the history and development of Oaxaca.

December 18 is the main festival of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad in the city of Oaxaca. The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad is open every day. There are face-to-face Masses Monday through Sunday at 7 AM, 12 PM and 6 PM.

Did you like knowing more about the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad? Do you want to find out even more about this and other religious sites and Oaxaca known for tourist sites? You can read more about buildings with architectural value in more posts on this blog:

• Oaxaca: Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre-Hispanic Art of Mexico
• Santo Domingo de Guzman Oaxaca: Church and Museum of Culture