Guadalajara

Guadalajara, Mexico's second city and the capital of Jalisco state, is the birthplace of tequila, mariachi music and the Mexican rodeo (charrería) — three defining symbols of Mexican national identity that originated in the Jalisco highlands around this city. It is also a city of grand colonial architecture, excellent food and a sophisticated urban culture often overlooked by tourists focused on Mexico City and the beach resorts. The historic centre contains some of Mexico's finest colonial architecture: the magnificent Guadalajara Cathedral (its twin yellow spires visible across the city), the Degollado Theatre (a neoclassical opera house), the Instituto Cultural Cabañas (a UNESCO World Heritage Site — a former orphanage with José Clemente Orozco's most important murals painted directly on the walls and ceilings) and the Mercado Libertad (the largest covered market in Latin America). Tlaquepaque and Tonalá, the artisan suburbs, are excellent for shopping. Lake Chapala (Mexico's largest lake, 50km south) and the expat community of Ajijic are pleasant day trips. Tequila town (60km northwest), where blue agave fields carpet the volcanic landscape and the major distilleries (José Cuervo, Patrón) are open for tours, is an essential Jalisco experience. Guadalajara's tortas ahogadas (bread roll drenched in spicy tomato sauce with pork) are the local street food speciality.