The Church of the Dark-Skinned Virgin

The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe is an assuring reminder of the blessings bestowed upon Puerto Vallarta, natural and otherwise. Even from sea, it stands out as a beacon of strength that protects and adds noble bearing to an already regal city.

The location where the church now stands was once the home of a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, patroness of Mexico, also known as La Virgen Morena, or dark-skinned virgin. The church's foundations were first laid out in 1903; subsequent church leaders, however, kept pushing for a bigger and better place of worship that would be worthy of the Virgin. Construction continued throughout several decades until the 1940s, when everything but its two towers was completed.

Because of the time it took to put together and the different parish priests involved in the direction of its development, the church's construction was influenced by several architectural styles, as were its interiors. Inside the church, at the center of the altar, there is a beautiful image of the Holy Mother painted by Ignacio Ramírez, a native of the state of Jalisco; the Stations of the Cross were sculpted by Mexico City artist Jesús Ramírez. Father Rafael Parra Castillo ordered these and many other renovations during the 1940s, '50s and '60s, for which he is remembered fondly to this day. In fact, a statue was erected in his honor just outside the church.

Then there is that spectacular crown that adorns this landmark. It's an eye-catching adornment that glamorizes the church and is said to have been inspired by another famous headdress—that of Empress Carlota, wife of Emperor Maximilian I, who briefly ruled over Mexico during the 1860s. The original crown was installed in 1963, but the passing of time and even earthquakes have destroyed later versions. Indeed, the church crown has just been restored to glory.

In December of 1531, the Virgin of Guadalupe is said to have appeared before a man named Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, now a saint himself. A 12-day Feast of Guadalupe celebrates this miracle annually with commemorations and thousands of churchgoers paying homage to the Virgin. More than 100 years after the beginning of its construction, the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe still stands as a proud symbol of Puerto Vallarta, with its dutiful bells ringing in Mexico's faithful year-round.