Guadalajara (Mexico)

See also: Guadalajara

Guadalajara , also called Beaded It del Occidente , is the capital of the State of Jalisco to the Mexico. It is located at 500 km in the west of Mexico City and has as coordinates. It is located in the valley of Atemajac, to 1561 m with the top of the sea level, near the Lac of Chapala. The metropolitan zone of Guadalajara, with the municipalities Zapopan, Tlaquepaque, Tonalá, Tlajomulco, Zapotlanejo and Ixtlahuacán del Río, form an agglomeration of more than 4,1 million inhabitants (2005). It is thus the second plus big city of the country, after the town of Mexico City. It is the economic and cultural pole west of Mexico, considered as the Mexican Silicon Valley. It is also a city very tourist grace in particular to its colonial architecture.

History

The city is founded first once on January 5th, 1530 by the Spanish colonists Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán and Cristóbal de Oñate with Nochistlán, in the State de Zacatecas. Nuño de Guzmán gave him the name of its town of origin, Guadalajara. This one comes from Arabic bog manganese Al-hid-jara who means “river which runs between the rocks”.

The Amerindian tribes present assert the territory and fought several months against Spanish who was obliged to move.

Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán and Juan Cristóbal d' Oñate remelt the city with Tonalá in 1534 then in Tlacotán in 1535 but cannot to with it be established more few months, always because of the resistance of the Amerindian tribes.

Finally Cristóbal de Oñate some Spanish survivors, find a site surer in the valley of Atemajac, the current site, and founds Guadalajara the February 14th 1542.

Geography

The relief of the city is flat but it is surrounded by several hills of which the Cerro del Coli and the volcano of Primavera, always in activity. The area is also subjected to a moderate seismic activity.

Climate

The climate is moderate with an average temperature of approximately 19° over the year.

Tourism

Guadalajara is also a high tourist place. Its climate, its colonial inheritance, the fields of production of tequila and the many bars, discotheques and shopping malls of the city attract many national and international visitors. The city is cut out in several sectors:

  • Historical center

  • Guadalajara, central Shingles (Center Town).
  • Metropolitan Zone
  • Zapopan
  • Tlaquepaque
  • Tonalá

Central historico

It is the place of foundation of the city where one finds a great number of historic buildings of colonial style.
  • the Cathedral of Guadalajara
  • the Palate of Jusctice
  • Old people's home Cabañas
  • the theater Degollado
  • the palate of the government
  • the town hall (palacio municipal)
Around these superb monuments, you will find a great number of places, parks and fountains.
  • the Place of Guadalajarra
  • the Place of the Release
  • the Rotunda of the Great men of Jalisco
  • the Place of the Weapons
  • the Place Tapatia
  • the Place of the Founders
  • Weapons of the City
  • the fountain of the imolation with Quetzacoatl
  • the recess of the Devil

Guadalajara, Zone Centers

The historical center is in the Zone Centers of Guadalajara. It is the oldest part of the city and account with colonial buildings, beginning of the XIXe century, time of the French intervention and government of Porfirio Díaz but also of the modern monuments.

Certain historical quarters like:

  • San Juan de Dios (known for its market)
  • Santa Teresa
  • San Felipe
  • Analco (originally indigenous district)
  • Mezquitan
  • Mexicaltzingo

In this zone, one can find very beautiful constructions like the temple expiatorio in style neogothic, the old vice-chancellorship of the University of Guadalajara, the temples of San Jose in Analco, of San Francisco, of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazú, San Juan de Dios, San Felipe, Nuestra Señora LED refugio… and well of others.

Shingles metropolitana

The city is also called the ciudad of mow Rosas (the city of the Pinks) because of its beauty. Today Guadalajara is a megalopolis of almost 4 million inhabitants and one of the arts centres, social and economic most important of Mexico. Thus, Guadalajara mixes old and modern in a harmonious way which is worth its name to him. The Shingles Metropolitana de Guadalajara includes/understands several municipalities: Zapopan, Tlaquepaque, Tonala, El Salto, and Tlajomulco de Zunica.

Zapopan

Zapopan is a municipality which is next to that of Guadalajara in the west. The urban strong growth of Guadalajara during the Sixties ended up annexing the old center of Zapopan. It is in this city that one finds also the “beautiful quarters” of the Metropolitana Shingles as well as main roads of economic development. Zapopan is known for its Virgen de Zapopan whose celebrated annual festival on October 12th joins together million faithful. Zapopan has many tourist sites:
  • the basilica of Zapopan
  • Los Arcos de Zapopan (place surrounded by bars and restaurants)
  • the old Place of Americas, renamed today Place Jean-Paul II
  • future Torrena: turn of the highest communication of Latin America.
  • the colonia Chapalita: this designed district as a Cité-jardin offers beautiful planted avenues and modern houses. (many restaurants)

Tlaquepaque

At 20 minutes of the Center of Guadalajara Tlaquepaque is. This small village formerly distant from Guadalajara was annexed following the fast enlarging of Guadalajara. Tlaquepaque is a high place of sale of Mexican Artisanat, window of the close place of production, the munipality of Tonala. San Pedro, the historical center, is very pleasant with its principal place, its cordial parrots and its inhabitants who make Tlaquepaque a typical village. Very beautiful colonial houses exist in Tlaquepaque. Their visit is a delight for those which seek a little place of paradise. In addition to this historical center preserved Tlaquepaque underwent a which gallops and abstract urbanization. The case of the district called El Cerro del Cuatro is significant of this type of urbanization. This one is perched on a mountain which dominates all the urban basin of Guadalajara.

Tonala

Tonala is known like Tlaquepaque for its craft industry. The name of Tonala comes from Nahuatl Tonallan which means “place where the sun leaves”. The history of Tonala is interesting since it was that Guadalajara was founded for the 2nd time. (In all one will have needed 4 attempts to manage to found the city). Tonala is known universally for its single ceramics in its kind. Its immense market each Thursday and Sunday attracts also a great number of visitors.

Personalities born in Guadalajara

Twinnings

since 1995

Méga-projects

There are currently 4 méga-projects under development with Guadalajara
  • the Guggenheim Museum

  • the Torrena: a tower which will be highest of the city for marketing activities, tourist, offices, and telecommunication. It is currently in the course of construction.

  • the Center JVC: an immense complex of buildings and alley for cultural activities.
  • the University Arts center * The Pan-American Plays of 2011: a whole of urban projects are in work for this occasion between sports equipment and urban developments.

External bonds

  • Guadalajara and its area, are the cradle many products and Mexican habits
  • GuadalajaraGuadalajara
  • Guadalajara - Radio Stations on line, newspapers, history, biographies
  • ¡ Vive Guadalajara!

Press

  • Mural El informador
  • (on subscription)
  • Público (Milenio Guadalajara)
  • Western El
  • Ocho columnas

Education

  • Tecnológico de Monterrey - Campus Guadalajara
  • ITESO
  • Universidad Panamericana
  • Universidad de Guadalajara
  • Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara
  • French College of Guadalajara

Culture

  • Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara
  • Fiestas de Octubre
  • Festival Puertas Abiertas de Artistas

Social

  • night Life in Guadalajara

Gallery

Random links:Carga de la diosa | List periphrases indicating of the languages | Radio Isfjord | Jacques Plants (lyric writer) | Records of Red Wings de Détroit | Laurent Redon