La Virgen de los Remedios Sanctuary (Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios) is a Mexican Catholic parish church that looks out over the city of Cholula from atop the Great Pyramid of Cholula, also known as Tlachihualtepetl. The church’s two richly decorated domes and heritage construction make it a landmark structure in Cholula. Admire its lavish nave and neoclassical altar as you stroll through the church’s interior. Outside, photograph the building with a breathtaking backdrop of volcanic mountains.
Note the immense pyramid structure as you climb the grassy slopes that lead up to the church. By volume, this pyramid is the largest of its kind in the world. It was constructed as a religious monument over a thousand years and revered by the Olmeca-Xicalanca, the Tolteca-Chichimeca and the post-Classic Aztecs. Enter the church and take in the ornate décor and the natural light that streams into the nave from windows in the rooftop domes.
Admire the gilded neoclassical flourishes and the 16th-century paintings throughout the church’s interior. Stroll down the aisle toward the main altar, which features an image of the Virgin of the Remedies, the patron saint of Cholula. It is believed this image arrived in Mexico from Spain in the early 16th century. The image was brought to replace the pre-Hispanic altar to a rain goddess called Chiconauhquiauhitl.
Be sure to save some time to visit the museum on the northern side of the pyramid to learn more about its religious and archaeological significance.
La Virgen de los Remedios Sanctuary is free to visit. The church is situated on top of the Great Pyramid of Cholula in the San Andrés Cholula district. Look out over the city from the church’s courtyard to enjoy an unbeatable panorama of the surrounding area.
