The Estadio Azteca and the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe are two colossal constructions of two great socio-cultural phenomena and projected by the same architect, Pedro Ramírez Vázquez.
Estadio Azteca
Estadio Azteca
This colossal stadium is the biggest one in Latin America and the home of Club America.
In 1997, the stadium's name was briefly changed to Estadio Guillermo Cañedo. However, the fans refused to adopt the new one, and it didn’t take long to regain its original name.
The semi-final of the 1970 FIFA World Cup, played at the Estadio Azteca between Italy and the former West Germany, has been called the Game of the Century.
La ola (the wave or the Mexican wave) was popularized worldwide during the 1986 Fifa World Cup, continuously appearing since the inaugural game in the Estadio Azteca.
The cantilevered roof was installed in 1967, several months after the stadium’s inauguration. It is made of galvanized steel sheets and supported by steel beams; and it covers around 80% of the grandstands, sheltering the public from the rain and sun.
Azteca Stadium 1 (2018-08-23/2018-08-23) by Ulrike Stein
Numbers to Ponder:
With a capacity of 87,523 spectators "The Colossus of Santa Ursula" has been the host of two World Cup finals and it is the home of the Mexican National Team.
The construction of this enormous multi-purpose stadium started in 1962 and was completed four years later. It has a constructed area of approximately 64,000 m2 (688,900 ft2) that took around 100,000 tons of concrete and 8,000 tons of steel rods.
Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe
Basilica of Guadalpue
The current basilica was built as a result of the need to give access to a greater number of devotees in a safe manner.
The old basilica –due to the sinking of its foundations– had become dangerous to visit.
Every year, on December 12th, it is visited by over 9 million Mexicans, being the most visited place in the whole country.
Basilica of Guadalupe 3 (2015-04-08/2015-04-08) by Atosan
The basilica was built in order to honor the Virgen of Guadalupe.
The roof has turned into a characteristic green color due to the natural oxidation of copper.
Did you know that the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe receives around 20 million visitors a year?
These colossal and massively visited landmarks symbolize Mexican passion; both the Estadio Azteca and the Basilica of Guadalpue make visiting these places, an already exciting and fervorous experience, even better.