Guadalajara, Mexico’s second largest city is often called “the Pearl of the West” and is known as the birthplace of the Mariachi music.Guadalajara is located in the state of Jalisco in the center of Mexico. Traveling to Mexico, Guadalajara. The Pearl of the West an exciting city that attracts traveling tourists from all over the world. The best possible description of Guadalajara is a mixture of the past and present.

 Mexico came under Spanish rule from 1521 to 1821. and was settled by Spanish Conquistadores on February 14, 1542. The word Guadalajara comes from the Arab word “Wadi-al-Hajara”, which means “Valley of stones”.  This traveling site  is named after the Spanish city of the same name, which was the hometown of conquistador Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán, who founded the Mexican city in 1531. The city was moved three times before its final settling in 1542. Interesting landmarks to visit on traveling  Guadalajara Mexico include:

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The Cabañas Cultural Institute :
Is one of the oldest and largest hospital complexes in Spanish America(it became a World Heritage site in 1997 and can be described by many as being “simply breathtaking!”). Built at the beginning of the 19th century, it was originally built to provide a home for orphans, the poor, handicapped and the elderly. In the early 20th century, the chapel was decorated with a series of murals by José Clemente Orozco.

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The Government Palace:
Is a particularly impressive city landmark (Palacio de Gobierno).This building dates from the second half of the 18th century, and was built to replace an adobe structure which had been in use since 1643. This historic building standing two storeys high and featuring a central clock, sited directly over the main entrance.

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The Zapopan Basilica (Basilica de Zapopan):
The Basilica de Zapopan is a historic structure dating back to the early part of the 18th century. This beautifully ornate church, built in 1690, is one of the city’s oldest structures.The church belongs to the Franciscan province of Sts. Francis and James (Francisco y Santiago) that covers Jalisco, Monterrey, Guanajuato and Zacatecas.

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The Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana):
Is the largest and oldest cathedral in the Americas and seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico. This ornate church, built over a 60 year period during the 16th and 17th centuries, has 11 altars donated by Spain’s Fernando VII. The cathedral has been renovated several times and remains in excellent order.

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The Expiatory Temple (El Templo Expiatorio):
The Expiatory Temple dates back to the very end of the 19th century. Featuring dramatic Gothic-style architecture, tall towers and beautiful arched windows.

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Mariachi music:
The only thing more Mexican than tequila is the mariachi A Mariachi band is a Mexican musical group consisting of five or more musicians that wear charro suits. The word mariachi refers to the musicians now commonly seen in restaurants or strolling the streets,which is now popular throughout Mexico and the Southwest United States, and is considered representative of Mexican music and culture.

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Roman Catholic Church:
No traveling visit to Guadalajara Mexico is never complete without seeing the centro historic.The historic district is a nice blend of buildings (which are hundreds of years old) where you can visit the cathedral, known for its emblematic towers. The current towers are not the originals. The first towers were destroyed in 1818 after a strong earthquake brought them crashing down. New towers had to be made and were constructed by Architect Manuel Gomez Ibarra in 1854. Currently, the cathedral continues to be in danger: it was damaged by the earthquakes of 1932, 1957, 1979, 1985, 1995 and 2003. Current threats include a slight tilt of the north tower and structural damage to the dome.

Every place in Guadalajara will give you a vacation you’ll be talking about for years to come.

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Believe it or not:
Emperor Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and ruler of much of Europe in the 16th century, gave Guadalajara its charter as “a most loyal and noble city.”

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