All About Guadalajara

All About Guadalajara
Guadalajara, “The Pearl of the West,” Capital of Jalisco and Mexico’s 2nd largest city and is one
of the largest urban centers in North America. The city has deep colonial roots which are evident
everywhere around the city. The city center is laid out like a cross, which consists of the
Guadalajara cathedral and 4 surrounding plazas.
The climate in the area is very mild, which is great for golfers and tennis players alike. The
weather is great year round, and the temperatures throughout the year range from lows of around
68 degrees to highs around 92 degrees during the summer.
Guadalajara is the birthplace of Mariachi music, and the city hosts an annual Mariachi bash in
September. Aside from Mariachi music, there is a vibrant music scene in the city. There are
plenty of clubs and venues, where a whole array of different varieties of music are played.
Guadalajara has plenty of activities and things to do around the city. Just like most other urban
cities, there are plenty of theatres and museums throughout the city. The arts are very important
to the city, and have been integral to the Gualajara’s rich history.
The city has plenty of great accommodations, ranging from modest to exquisite. Plenty
of villas and other long term accommodations are also available, as well as some of the best food
in the country. Guadalajara’s dining and nightlife scene is world class, and is definitely worth
checking out on your vacation.
Gualajara is home to Libertad Market, which is the largest public market in the Western
Hemisphere. You can find plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as a variety of goods
such as homemade pottery, leather goods, chairs, ect.
If you travel a mere 5 miles away from Guadalajara, you will arrive in
Tlaquepaque. This one of Mexico’s most important art centers. In
Tlaquepaque you will find even more pottery, homemade blown glass, wood workings and
furniture.
Guadalajara Cathedral
Guadalajara Cathedral
While occupying much of the lovely public square known as Plaza de Armas, the beautiful
Guadalajara Cathedral (Catedral de Guadalajara) stands with its façade fronting the adjoining
Plaza de los Laureles, a smaller square with a lovely large fountain. Built between 1558 and
1616 and much altered in later periods, the cathedral, although mostly Baroque in appearance,
shows a remarkable mingling of different styles, particularly in its fine mostly Gothic interior.
Highlights include its many chapels with their paintings attributed to Cristóbal de Villalpando,
Miguel Cabrera, and Murillo, some of Mexico's finest artists (a particularly beautiful example by
Murillo - the Assumption of the Virgin Mary - hangs over the doorway of the sacristy).
The Churches of Santa Mónica and San Agustin

San Agustin Enrique López-Tamayo Biosca
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Guadalajara boasts many splendid old churches, most easily accessible from the historic city
center. One of the prettiest, the 17th-century Church of Santa Mónica (Templo de Santa
Mónica), lies a few blocks northwest of the cathedral and is notable for its Baroque façade with
its twisted columns and intricately carved ornamentation including grapes, cobs of maize, angels,
double eagles, and symbols of religious orders. Also of interest is the splendid Church of San
Agustin (Templo de San Agustín), part of a former convent built in the 16th century with later
Baroque flourishes and boasting a splendid interior that includes a fine altar with an image of the
church's patron saint. Other Baroque churches of interest are the 17th-century San Francisco, San
Felipe Neri, and Aránzazu Churches.
José Clemente Orozco's Frescoes

Jose Clemente Orozco Mural at the University of Guadalajara
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Spread across the city are a number of sites featuring artwork by one of Mexico's most renowned
painters, José Clemente Orozco (1883 - 1949). Some of his finest work can be seen in the form
of frescoes in a former chapel in the Hospicio Cabañas complex. Painted between 1938-39,
these huge murals portray the Four Elements, Art, and Science, as well as the Conquest and
the Four Riders of the Apocalypse. The high point is the superb fresco of Mankind in
Flames (Hombre del Fuego) in the dome. Various rooms around the complex are also of interest
as they contain a variety of exhibits devoted to Orozco's life and works. Another site containing
examples of Orozco's frescos is the Government Palace. Finally, for a fascinating look into the
artist's life and times, visit the Orozco Museum in his former home and studio with its many
original paintings, drawings, and artifacts.
Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento
Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento

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Although one of Guadalajara's newer churches - construction started in 1897 and didn't end until
1972 - the Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento is undoubtedly one of the finest
religious structures in the city. Built in neo-Gothic style and notable for its many European-made
components, the church is famous for its fine exterior, highlights of which include its finely
carved doors inlaid with bronze reliefs, exquisite mosaics from Italy, a unique German clock,
and a superb carillon capable of playing 25 different pieces of music (it can also be played from
inside the church) while figures of the 12 Apostles move around it. Also of interest are the
building's fine stained glass windows from France, and the richly decorated Golden Altar with its
many biblical stories.
Address: Av López Cotilla 935, Centro, 44100 Guadalajara, Jalisco

8 The Rotunda of Illustrious Men
The Rotunda of Illustrious Men

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Just outside Guadalajara Cathedral in Plaza de Armas is Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres, the
Rotunda of Illustrious Men. Constructed in 1952 in honor of the state's best-known historical
figures - including famed artist José Clemente Orozco, whose work can be seen in murals across
the city - this large circular stone monument features 17 tall columns and houses the remains of
98 important individuals. A number of statues of some of these individuals can also be seen. Hot
Tip: Visit the site after nightfall when it's lit up in spectacular fashion, an effect heightened by a
flaming cauldron in the middle of the rotunda.
9 Hospicio Cabañas
Hospicio Cabañas
The exquisite Hospicio Cabañas, a splendid neoclassical former hospital built at the beginning of
the 19th century, is a must-see when visiting Guadalajara's historic downtown core. Boasting no
fewer than 23 patios, the complex is not only the oldest hospital in the Americas, it's also one of
the largest. Built in 1791, it also served as an orphanage and workhouse, providing shelter for the
city's poor. Based on similar designs in Paris and Madrid, the main building is notable for its fine
murals by José Clemente Orozco. Afterwards, visit the pedestrian-friendly Plaza de Toros and
the huge Market Hall (Mercado Libertad) where, in addition to the usual wares, regional
costumes, pottery, paper flowers, musical instruments, and songbirds are offered for sale.
Address: Cabañas 8, Las Fresas, 44360 Guadalajara, Jalisco
10 Picturesque City Parks: Parque Agua Azul
Picturesque City Parks: Parque Agua Azul Jeff Kramer
Guadalajara's most popular public park is the beautiful Parque Agua Azul, literally translated as
the Blue Water Park. Opened in 1952, the park covers an area of some 168,000 square meters
and is a wonderful place to stroll, particularly due to its many landscaped gardens and trees.
Highlights include a tropical orchid house, as well as a Butterfly House and an aviary, both home
to a wide variety of indigenous species. Also of interest is the adjacent Casa de las Artesanías,
an area where local folk art is exhibited and sold, as well as a small anthropological m

All About Guadalajara

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All About Guadalajara

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All About Guadalajara

The Churches of Santa Mónica and San Agustin

José Clemente Orozco's Frescoes

Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento

Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento

Address: Av López Cotilla 935, Centro, 44100 Guadalajara, Jalisco

The Rotunda of Illustrious Men

Address: Cabañas 8, Las Fresas, 44360 Guadalajara, Jalisco

10 Picturesque City Parks: Parque Agua Azul

Picturesque City Parks: Parque Agua Azul Jeff Kramer

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