The Cathedral in Guadalajara stands at the center of the city. Construction of the cathedral began in 1561. The Roman Catholic cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption.

Guadalajara is the second largest city in Mexico, with a population of approximately 3,669,000 people in its metropolitan area. It is the capital of the state of Jalisco. Guadalajara has a rich history dating back to Mexico's days as a Spanish colony. The city was founded in 1531 by Nuno de Guzman, a Spanish conquistador, who named Guadalajara for his birthplace back in Spain.

Guadalajara is considered by many to be the most Mexican of cities, known for its beauty and its significant cultural contributions. The city is affectionately nicknamed both La Perla del Occidente ("the pearl of the west") and Ciudad de las Rosas ("city of roses") and is admired for its Colonial architecture, public squares, parks and churches. It is believed that mariachi music, a particular genre featuring vocals, guitars, trumpets and violins, originated in the state of Jalisco. Guadalajara is considered home of the jarabe tapat?o, sometimes called the "Mexican hat dance" and some say the city is the birthplace of the sombrero itself. Until the late 1800s, the haciendas and ranches of Jalisco were worked by cowboys known as charros and this tradition continues today in the form of colorfully dressed, skillful riders and ropers who perform in rodeos, or charreadas. Tequila was invented in the region and Jalisco is home to Mexico's modern tequila industry. Today, Guadalajara is an important manufacturing center, known for its fine pottery and blown glass along with the production of textiles, hosiery, flour, steel and alcoholic products.

Guadalajara is also home to the University of Guadalajara. The University's vivid history dates back to 1792. Biblioteca Benjamín Franklin is located on the campus of the University of Guadalajara.

Jalisco is one of 31 states (along with the Federal District, located in Mexico City) in the federal republic of Mexico (Estados Unidos Mexicanos). Every Mexican state has a governor, who serves a six year term, and a unicameral legislature, both elected by popular vote. The state is divided into dozens of local governmental units called municipios (municipalities), each of which is headquartered in a prominent city, town, or village. Jalisco has a population of 6,752,113 residents (from the 2005 Census) - more than half of those residents live in Guadalajara, the capital city of Jalisco. It is located on the western Pacific coast of Mexico and its area comprises 30,941 square miles. Along with Guadalajara, its other principal city is Puerto Vallarta, another major tourist destination. Chief minerals found in the region are: silver, gold, mercury, copper and precious stones. Its chief agricultural products are: Corn, beans, cattle, pigs, horses, wheat, oats, sugarcane, cotton, rice, tobacco, chickpeas and linseed. The major industries and products of the Jalisco region are: processed foods, iron and steel, metallurgy, textiles, leather goods, hydroelectric power generation, glass, pottery, cement, tequila and, of course, tourism.

Learn more about the city of Guadalajara and the Mexican state of Jalisco at these Web sites:

• Jalisco - Secretary of Tourism
  
  
• ¡ Vive Guadalajara !