Basilica of Our Lady of Solitude
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
A Baroque basilica dedicated to Our Lady of Solitude, the patron saint of Oaxaca, with a stone facade carved in layers like an altarpiece, and a square out front where you can eat traditional ice cream.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Solitude was built between 1682 and 1690. Its stone facade is divided into tiers like a folding altarpiece and richly carved, making it one of the masterpieces of Mexican Baroque architecture. The statue of Our Lady of Solitude inside is the patron saint of Oaxaca state. According to legend, the image is linked to a mule that carried it, and a grand festival is held every year on 18 December. Next to the church is a museum of religious art, and vendors in the square in front sell local ice cream (nieves), where you can try prickly pear or caramel milk flavours. Free to visit, and about a 10-minute walk from the Zócalo.
Opening hours
Approx. 07:00–21:00 (please keep quiet during Mass)
Nearby sights
- Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre-Hispanic Art
- Cerro del Fortín & Guelaguetza Auditorium
- Zócalo & Oaxaca Cathedral
- Mercado Benito Juárez
- Andador Turístico (Calle Macedonio Alcalá)
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca (MACO)
- Mercado 20 de Noviembre
- Teatro Macedonio Alcalá