Top Ten Colonial Cities in Mexico

Guadalajara (Jalisco)

Guadalajara
THEIR FAIR LADY: Guadalajara's cathedral and main plaza (Bruce Herman/courtesy, Mexico Tourism)

Mexico's second-largest city is open and friendly, and surprisingly easy to manage. Its colonial center extends nearly a kilometer, book-ended by a gorgeous cathedral and the Instituto Cultural Cabañas, an orphanage-turned-museum that's one of the country's best. The enclaves of Tlaquepaque and Tonalá—both a short cab ride away—are home to generations of artisans who produce folk art of every sort, some of it truly exquisite. Mariachi and tequila, those quintessential Mexican-isms, were both born here too; go to their sources at Plaza de los Mariachis or on a distillery tour in the nearby town of Tequila.

Inside Tip: The municipal band—a few musicians on clarinet, trumpet, tuba—gives a free concert in the Plaza de Armas most Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings.


Liza Prado and Gary Chandler are the authors of numerous guidebooks to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, including Yucatán Peninsula and Cancún & Cozumel , both published by Moon Handbooks.



Last Updated: 15 Sep 2010
Published: 12 Jan 2007
The details, dates, and prices mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication.

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