Reasons to visit Guadalajara

by admin · Published September 21, 2022 · Updated October 29, 2023

Are you wondering whether you should visit Guadalajara?

Located in the west-central part of the country in the state of Jalisco, the beautiful Colonial city of Guadalajara sits on a high plateau more than 5,000 feet above sea level.

There are a lot of reasons to visit Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state. Guadalajara is Mexico’s second-largest city and a little off the usual tourist route. Guadalajara is located 536 km and a 6.5-hour drive from Mexico City.

Guadalajara is made up of 3 towns – Guadalajara, Tlaquepaque and Zapopan.

Guadalajara is well-known as a city of tequila and mariachi. You must head to Plaza de Los Mariachis in the evening for the mariachi bands, it is quite an experience.

What to see in Guadalajara?

The city was founded in 1542 by the Spanish conquistador, Nuno de Guzmán. Even today, the downtown area of Guadalajara is filled with charming Colonial buildings dating from the 1600s.

Guadalajara is a 450-year-old city of 5 million people with so much culture and sophistication.

The museums, art centers, the Degollado Theater, beautiful city parks, churches, and exciting markets will fill your days with sights and sounds of Mexico that you will never forget!

Guadalajara is a colonial city of incredible architecture with lots to see and do.

Visit Guadalajara’s Cathedral

The Roman Catholic Cathedral certainly has a history.

• The Roman Catholic Cathedral certainly has a history.
• It was first constructed in 1541
• On May 30, 1574, it caught fire as a result of neighbors firing shots into the air which fell onto the cathedral.
• In February 1618 the renovated cathedral was completed.
• In 1818 an earthquake caused the dome and the tower to collapse
• In 1849 these had been reconstructed only to suffer another earthquake and rebuilt again in 1854
• Earthquakes in 1932, 1957, 1979, 1985, 1995, and 2003 have caused the North Tower to tilt and more structural damage to the Tower
• It is built in the Spanish Renaissance style

Car-Free Sunday in Guadalajara

Visit Guadalajara on a Sunday. Join the locals in the morning on Avenidas Vallarta and Juarez where you can cycle or walk.

There is street theatre lining the streets and there is a vibrant buzz all around.

Street Vibe and Shopping in Guadalajara

Head to Mercado San Juan de Dios for affordable leather goods.

This is the colonial home of the Conqueror Juan de Saldivar which dates back to 1589.

The colonial home was also used as the Headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition. The alley where is it located is known as the Rincon del Diablo translates means the Devil’s Nook.

Legend states that supernatural encounters and deaths have taken place in the home.

Visit the Plazas of Guadalajara

Plaza Tapatia has many statues and interesting shops to view as you wander down its vast length where at the far end lies Instituto Cultural Cabanas.

The Instituto Cultural Cabanas was originally a hospice that provided care for invalids, handicapped people, old people, and orphans at the beginning of the 19th century.

The chapel contains murals of the famous Jose Clemente Orozco. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

In the North section of Plaza de Liberacion, you will find the statue dedicated to Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costill who signed the Mexican Declaration of Independence in the Governor’s Office.

The Rotonda is a mausoleum containing the ashes of 98 men and women who were important to the city and who were born locally in the state of Jalisco.  The remains are of scientists, writers, artists, and educators. The Rotonda was built in 1952.

The bronze sculpture commemorates the city’s founders and was created by Rafael Zamarripa.

Palacio de Gobierno

The Murals are by Jose Clemente Orozco.  The building has a section on the history of Jalisco.

The original building collapsed during an earthquake in 1750 and it was subsequently rebuilt in the baroque style.

Intrigued about how Tequila is made?

You can book a 6-hour Tequila tasting tour that includes a visit to the famous Jose Cuervo Distillery.

Taste the tequilas of Mexico on a 6-hour tasting tour from Guadalajara. Explore Mexico’s renowned tequila-producing region of Jalisco and stop for tequila tastings at one of the most famous tequila distilleries in the world, Jose Cuervo Distillery.

Guadalajara