Mexico City finished first in a list of the world’s most visited religious tourism destinations, ahead of the Vatican and Lourdes in France, reports Milenio.
A study carried out by the Spanish Office of Tourism found that Mexico’s capital is the preferred destination of tourists seeking religious sites, largely because of its Basilica de Guadalupe, which receives millions of pilgrims each year.
The site of the basilica marks the spot where, according to Catholic tradition, the Virgin de Guadalupe — Mexico’s most revered saint — appeared to indigenous farmer Juan Diego in 1531. Every year, millions of pilgrims make their way to the shrine — arriving in their biggest numbers around Dec. 12, the Dia de la Virgin. See La Plaza’s video report on last year’s pilgrims here.
Second place on the list of top religious destinations was claimed by Lourdes.
