Guadalajara

Guadalajara, the second largest city in the country (pop 3,5 million) is considered its most typically Mexican, with contributions to Mexican culture such as the sombrero hat, mariachi music, and tequila. Also known as "La Perla de Occidente" (Perl of the West), the city is beautiful and spacious. Its heart is the area around the massive cathedral finished in 1618. The cathedral is surrounded by four beautiful plazas with historical buildings, and there is linked to the Hospicio de Cabanas by the lively kilometer long Plaza Tapatia.

The Hospicio Cabanas, built at beginning of the 19th century to provide care and shelter for the disadvantaged and the weak. This remarkable complex was unique for its time. It is also notable for the harmonious relationship between the open and built spaces, the simplicity of its design, and its size. In the early 20th century, the chapel was decorated with a series of murals by Jose Clemente Orozco, which is now considered one of the masterpieces of Mexican art. The Hospicio Cabanas is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.