Sightseeing in Guadalajara - what to see. Complete travel guide

Guadalajara is a city located in Mexico, on the south-west of Mexican plateau. The city is an administrative center of Jalisco state. This name was got from the name of a town in Spain. The name can be translated as “the river flowing between mountains”. Guadalajara is often called a diamond of west and a city of roses. The population of the city estimates 1.646 million, making Guadalajara the second largest city of Mexico. The city was founded by the Spanish in 1513.

This is an economic center of west and north-west of Mexico. In Guadalajara are well-developed food, shoe, beer, chemical, and textile industries. Also here are created modern machine building and fertilizer creation factories. The city is a large transport junction as here cross important railway and auto routes. There are also a products pipe line and a gas pipeline here.

Tourists will definitely remember Guadalajara by its buildings referred to the colonial period of XVI-XVIII centuries. The most interesting may become churches built in baroque style. The most famous of them are Santa Monica Church, San Francisco Church, arena for charreada Lienzo Charro, and museum of the state. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Guadalajara is also a home place for birth of mariachi music and a dance with hats. Here people started to drink tequila, wear sombrero and attend Mexican rodeo for the first time. The city is attractive for tourists because here you will find the same amazing entertainments that in Mexico – a lively culture, picture galleries and museums, amazing historical buildings, comfortable hotels with great service, delicious cuisine, and unforgettable night life. However, only in Guadalajara you can get all these without excessive noise that is so frequent in large urban cities.

Some of the historical monuments of Guadalajara have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, among them the Cabañas Cultural Institute. Originally, in this magnificent historical building was located a hospital, in which children and elderly people were treated. Today the building has been converted into a museum dedicated to the history and culture of the city, and part of the historic building is the chapel. The fine building is the most valuable monuments of architecture. The famous Mexican painter, Jose Clemente Orozca, worked on its design. Beautiful frescoes created by him have survived to this day.

There are many beautiful palaces in the city; one of the most notable is the Palacio Del Gobierno, located on the Plaza de Armas. Now in this palace, there is an interesting historical museum, and part of it was given for the needs of state institutions. Originally, the attractive palace served as the main residence of the President of Mexico. Its interior decoration was virtually intact and amazes with its luxury. Economical tourists will be pleased to learn that a walk through the halls of this beautiful palace is absolutely free.

Not far from the palace, there is an interesting cultural institution - Museum of Tequila, Mescal and Mariachi. Here visitors are told the history of the appearance of popular national drinks. Among the exhibits of the museum, there are many interesting technical devices that were employed for their production. An obligatory part of the excursion is the tasting of popular varieties of tequila and mariachi. In the museum, there is a shop where you can buy gift sets of liked drinks.

One of the most picturesque and bohemian places in the city can safely be said to be the Garden of Arts, which is a real open-air museum. Every day, there are exhibitions of local sculptors, artisans and artists in this picturesque garden. You can buy absolutely all the works you like. Also, the garden is used for celebrations and thematic events dedicated to national history and culture.

Walking enthusiasts love climbing the El Palomar Mountain. At its top is an excellent observation deck, from which a magnificent panoramic view of Guadalajara and its surroundings opens.