It was not the first Marian shrine, as there had been a small hermitage since 1656 dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Its facade combines Neoclassical and Baroque elements, resulting in a magnificent composition where volume is given by the thickness and arrangement of the columns and balustrade.

Another unique aspect of the Basilica's architecture is its three-level towers, which are the tallest in the city, with a height of 53.20 m.

In 1855, due to the French invasion, the building was converted into a military barracks, and later the government used it as a warehouse.

In 1871, the church was rescued, and its restoration began, entrusted to Cástulo Camacho. It was in this year that the main altar was built in a Neoclassical style, although the image of the Virgin dates back to 1838.

The sacristy houses a collection of interesting paintings, including the fourteen Stations of the Cross, a work by Francisco de P. Herrera.