Guadalajara's historic downtown district contains several examples of neoclassical architecture such as the Metropolitan Cathedral.
After staying in Monterrey in Nuevo Leon, Mexico for nearly 6 months, I decided to spend a weekend in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, with Nancy, Elvira and Fernando, and also to meet with their friends, our hosts, in this historic city.
Backgrounder: Guadalajara is the capital city of the state of Jalisco, Mexico, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of the state and in the western-Pacific area of Mexico. With a population of over 1.6-million it is Mexico's second most populous municipality. The Guadalajara Metropolitan Area includes other adjacent municipalities and has a population of over 4-million, making it the second most populous metropolitan area in Mexico as well. Situated at an altitude of 1,600 meters, thus endowing it with a mild, spring-like climate, Guadalajara is one of the main centers of culture, economy, history, industry and religion in the country and exerts significant influence on the rest of Mexico. The city is named after the Spanish city of Guadalajara, whose name originates from the Arabic phrase "wadii al-Hajara," meaning "valley of stones."
