Looking for what to do on the weekend? The tourist places of Guadalajara await you. Learn more about the Pearl of the West with this guide and visit it!
Guadalajara It was founded in the prosperous Valley of Atemajac, at 1550 meters above sea level, back in the year 1542, on February 14 specifically, with the idea that it would be the capital of New Spain. Over time, tourist places of Guadalajara have made it an ideal destination where to go on the weekend, consolidating it as the second most important city in Mexico.
Nowadays "The Pearl of the West”Is a beautiful city where culture, industry and recreation come together to offer visitors the excellent option to enjoy its vacations in Guadalajara.
FRIDAY
We arrived in Guadalajara a bit late, and we went directly to HOTEL LA ROTONDA, to unload our luggage and rest for a few minutes before going out for our first walk through the city center.
What to do on the weekend in Guadalajara? Having rested a bit from the trip and after freshening up, we went to the PLAZA DE ARMAS, one of those places in Guadalajara to visit! This square is guarded by the seats of the ecclesiastical and civil powers, and whose main attraction is the unique art nouveau style kiosk dating from the 19th century, we see that its ceiling, made of fine wood, is supported by eight caryatids that simulate musical instruments . The group forms a very special acoustic box that is used every weekend to offer concerts with the wind band, which we have the opportunity to listen to.
After having delighted with the music and, for the same reason, having stimulated our appetite more, we go straight to one of the most traditional food places where to go in Guadalajara: CENADURÍA LA CHATA. And if you wonder what to eat in GuadalajaraWhat are those typical flavors that you should try? You can ask for a "Jalisco dish", which brings a little of everything.
Already with a full stomach, we decided to take a light walk towards PLAZA DE LOS LAURELES, also known as Town Hall Square, in the center of which we can see a beautiful circular fountain with stairways that commemorates the founding of the city, and which was built between 1953 and 1956. There are vestiges of the history of Guadalajara in many of its streets.
After our first walk we decided to go to sleep to recharge, because the places for the weekend there are many and tomorrow's tour awaits us wide awake. But for those who like to stay a bit more awake, they can choose a bar or disco where they will have a good time.
SATURDAY
As always in the Weekend trips, we start the day early to enjoy it to the fullest. On this occasion we decided to have breakfast at the old MI TIERRA RESTAURANT which, according to a sign, was founded in 1857 and which is run by “Los Nicolases”. Walking towards it, we find the TEMPLE OF JESÚS MARÍA, a baroque building in whose interior the number of tubular organs it has, despite its limited space, draws our attention.
"Full belly, happy heart", the saying goes, and we reached Avenida Juárez, one of the main avenues in the historic center of Guadalajara, and just opposite where we are, we can see the JARDÍN DEL CARMEN with its typical fountain in the center and a beautiful wooded space that perfectly frames the SANCTUARY OF NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL CARMEN, founded between 1687 and 1690, and which was completely remodeled in 1830. From its original decoration, the shield of the Carmelite order, the star and the sculptures are preserved of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. In general we can say that this temple is of sober construction, and that it gives its name to the garden in question. Definitely another place what to visit in Guadalajara!
In one of the benches we wait for the EX CONVENTO DEL CARMEN to open its doors, which was one of the richest in the city and which was almost completely destroyed, leaving only a small part of its cloister and the chapel standing. Today it works as a museum space, and this time we have the opportunity to see the work of the artists Leopoldo Estrada and “El Uneliz”, as he calls himself.
We headed towards the eastern part of the center; Suddenly we come across, on the sidewalk and leaning on a building, with a unique bronze sculpture that is a tribute that Telmex pays to Jorge Matute Remus, an engineer who was municipal president of the city and who carried out the transfer of the historic building in the that is supported.
We follow the path and in the small PLAZA UNIVERSIDAD draws our attention, a building that in 1591 the Jesuits founded as a school under the dedication of Santo Tomás de Aquino, and that in 1792 the chapel and convent housed the Royal and Pontifical University of Guadalajara. In 1937 the municipal government sold the convent and currently only the temple with a beautiful neoclassical portico that was added at the beginning of the 19th century is preserved and which today is the headquarters of the “OCTAVIO PAZ” IBEROAMERICAN LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GUADALAJARA .
Finally, we arrive at the PALACIO DE GOBIERNO, a monumental Churrigueresque and neoclassical construction completed in 1774, and whose interior was almost entirely rebuilt due to the explosion that occurred in that place in 1859. Later, in 1937, José Clemente Orozco painted a extraordinary mural on the walls of the main staircase, in which an angry Miguel Hidalgo is observed, with a torch in his hand, facing the “dark forces”, represented by the clergy and the militia.
On leaving we decided to visit the METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL, whose construction began in 1558 and was consecrated in 1616. Its two majestic towers, symbol of the city, were built in the 19th century, as the originals collapsed with the earthquake of 1818; the dome had to be rebuilt after another earthquake, this one in 1875. The building shows a mixture of Gothic, Baroque, Moorish and Neoclassical styles, which perhaps gives it its peculiar grace and rhythm. The interior is divided into three naves and 11 lateral altars; its ceiling rests on 30 columns in the Doric style. The Cathedral is of an architectural beauty that is well worth knowing in detail.
Now we go to the MUNICIPAL PALACE, a construction that reproduces courtyards, portals, columns, Tuscan and characteristic corners of the old architecture of the city, and inside which is the seat of municipal power.
As our stomach begins to demand food and, in addition, we want to visit one of the famous shopping malls in Guadalajara, we headed to the PARRILLA SUIZA RESTAURANT, an excellent place where we can enjoy a delicious meal. I, for now, notice an order of steak tacos al mason that will surely keep me on a full stomach until late in the afternoon.
Nearby is the famous PLAZA DEL SOL, where we can satisfy our consumerism, it is huge and you can find any item you want: shoes, clothing, accessories, self-service stores, restaurants, cafes, etc. This is one of those weekend spots that locals visit a lot.
It is time to return to the center of the city, as we still have a lot to visit in Guadalajara. Before reaching the historic center of Guadalajara, we stop to see the magnificent EXPIATORY TEMPLE, whose first stone was laid on August 15, 1877, and was opened for worship on January 6, 1931. Its façade is in quarry neo-Gothic style. and divided into three sections finished in a pinnacle each. Its interior is divided into three naves with columns joined by countless ribs, and it is illuminated by wonderful windows decorated with multi-colored stained glass, which gives a special atmosphere to the place.
Just behind the Expiatory Temple is the OLD RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GUADALAJARA, a construction dating from 1914 that was founded as the University Rectory on October 12, 1925. The building is shaped like a cross with tiers and semicircular arches . Its style is framed within the French Renaissance and on its front face there are various metallic sculptures that serve as a preamble to the collections that we will admire inside, since today it houses the MUSEUM OF ARTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GUADALAJARA.
Returning to the first square of the city, we went to the PLAZA DE LA LIBERACIÓN, which is another of the squares that surround the Metropolitan Cathedral in the shape of a cross, and which since its construction in 1952 is also known as the “Plaza de the two cups ”due to the two fountains with this figure that are located at its eastern and western ends. From this square you have a spectacular view of the DEGOLLADO THEATER, which was inaugurated in 1856 with the opera Lucía de Lammermoor, starring the Guanajuato actress Ángela Peralta. The theater is of a marked neoclassical style and in its vault there are frescoes by Gerardo Suárez that evoke a passage from the Divine Comedy. Its original facade was remodeled to cover it with quarry and place a marble relief on its upper pediment, the work of the artist Benito Castañeda.
Just behind the theater stands the FOUNTAIN OF THE FOUNDERS, which indicates the exact place where the foundation of the city was made in 1542. In the fountain there is a bronze sculptural relief made by Rafael Zamarripa that evokes the foundation ceremony headed by Cristóbal de Oñate.
As we walk through the PASEO DEGOLLADO we take the opportunity to spend what we have left of money by entering one of the many jewelry centers that are found here and visiting the portals where hippie artisans, as they are known, are placed. From among the crowd, the “Bird that reads luck” catches our attention and we turn to him so that with his ability he can tell us how we will fare in love or in our luck; sure, if we believe in it.
To rest a bit from the busy day we have had for the first half of the weekend in Guadalajara, we sat on one of the benches in the walker, tasting a delicious ice cream and listening to one of the melodies that a new singing group interpreted next to the founders fountain, while we observe how the children have fun crossing the waters of one of the many fountains found here.
When we pass in front of the Degollado Theater, on our way to go to dinner, we find ourselves with a pleasant surprise when we see how the façade of this artistic venue begins to “light up with colors”, as recently a set of lights was acquired to set the mood for this building. Thus we see that it suddenly lights up in green, blue, pink and, at one point, in various colors, giving a wonderful panorama. (Asking the next day, they informed us that from that date the light show would run every day at the theater and at the Cabañas Cultural Institute.)
We decided to dine at LA ANTIGUA RESTAURANT which is located in the upper part of one of the buildings surrounding Plaza Guadalajara, almost in front of the cathedral. There we sat at one of the tables that look out from a balcony to the aforementioned square to, while enjoying our dinner, observe what happens meters below.
After dinner we decided to simply change height and go down to BAR LAS SOMBRILLAS, which is located practically below La Antigua, on the Plaza de los Laureles to enjoy the live music show that it offers and savor a coffee or a michelada.
Finally, we decided to go to rest, because tomorrow we still have a lot to know and, unfortunately, start our return.
SUNDAY
To fully enjoy the little time that we have left to finish seeing all the tourist places of Guadalajara that we have on our list, we decided to start early and this time we are going to have breakfast at the LIBERTAD MARKET, better known as "Mercado de San Juan de Dios" for being in that neighborhood. This market has been considered one of the largest and most attractive in the Mexican Republic. It consists of two floors: on the ground floor we can find all kinds of prepared food (which is where we go first, as hunger guides us); and at the top are the stalls of clothes, shoes, records, gifts, toys, in short, in this market we can find practically anything that comes to mind.
At the end of breakfast we decided to visit the TEMPLE OF SAN JUAN DE DIOS, built during the 17th century in a baroque style, and the famous PLAZA DE LOS MARIACHIS, which is framed by portals in which there are several restaurants from which they listen to the numerous Mariachis who meet here throughout the day, but increase their activity at night.
After listening to the mariachis, we went to the HOSPICIO CABAÑAS, a building designed by the architect Manuel Tolsá at the end of the 18th century, and inaugurated in 1810 without having been completed, which happened until 1845. The construction is neoclassical in style with a pediment triangular in the portico and its interior is divided by numerous and long corridors, more than 20 patios and countless rooms. Since its inception it was used as an asylum for orphaned children and the name is due to its main promoter, Bishop Ruiz de Cabañas y Crespo. At present it works as a cultural center under the name of INSTITUTO CULTURAL CABAÑAS and its main attraction are the paintings that José Clemente Orozco painted there, highlighting the one located in the dome of the enclosure, in which it represents a man on fire and that It has been regarded as the artist's masterpiece.
At the end of our visit, we walked back until we reached the PALACE OF JUSTICE, which was built in 1588 as part of the CONVENT OF SANTA MARÍA DE GRACIA, whose chapel we can still see adjacent to the palace.
Continuing our walk we arrive at the REGIONAL MUSEUM OF GUADALAJARA which is located in the old building of the Seminary of San José dating from the end of the 18th century. The museum's permanent collections include paleontological and archaeological pieces, as well as paintings by Juan Correa, Cristóbal de Villalpando and José de Ibarra. In addition, it is worth admiring its central courtyard surrounded by columns and semicircular arches, as well as the staircase that leads to the upper floor.
When leaving one of the classic museums of Guadalajara we cross the street to admire the ROUNDTABLE OF THE ILLUSTRATED MEN, a monument erected in 1952 and made up of 17 fluted columns without base or capital and that delineate the enclosure in a circular way. The monument houses 98 urns with the remains of some historical figures.
We are almost about to start our return and we forgot something typical and traditional of Guadalajara: walking in a calender. So we decided to go up to one so that, in a more rested way, it would take us for a tour of the old Guadalajara. During the walk we pass by the TEMPLE OF SAN FRANCISCO, from the late seventeenth century and which has a beautiful portal of three bodies and, right next to it, we see the CHAPEL OF NUESTRA SEÑORA DE ARANZAZU, also from the seventeenth century and which protects some notable pieces of religious art, standing out some one-of-a-kind baroque altarpieces.
After almost an hour we reached where we started the tour, which, by the way, is located a few steps from our hotel, so we decided to collect our luggage to start the return, but not before returning to La Chata to taste a delicious Mexican food that gives us strength for the return trip to our home.
During lunch someone asks us if we have already visited the TIANGUIS DE ANTIGÜEDADES that is located on the Plaza de la República, and since we did not know it, before leaving we went there. In the tianguis we find everything: from scrap metal and old iron to real collectibles. In order not to turn around in vain, we made ourselves a Brownie camera that we needed in the collection and, now, we decided to end the weekend in Guadalajara, knowing that we have had an extraordinary experience in the "Pearl of the West" . For our pleasant experience, we recommend trips to Guadalajara soon.
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