Guadalajara – Zapopan

Zapopan is similar to Tlaquepaque. It used to be a separate town, but due to the growth of the city, it’s now just an outlying suburb. It’s more than just an ordinary suburb though. It has all the features of a grand colonial city, but in a slightly smaller scale.


The most imposing building in the town is the cathedral. It is venerated by all the city. People wanting a special favour from God, walk from the front door to the altar on their knees. At the end, is an especially venerated image of the Virgin Mary. It’s so special, that every year, it does a tour of all the city churches – just like a rock star!

The town square is also quite pretty. It has a lovely band stand, lots of pretty gardens and the usual throng of stalls on the edges. Underneath is the car park – how convenient!

The other big attraction in Zapopan is MAZ –Museo de Arte de Zapopan. It’s a museum of modern art and has some very funky art inside. It’s dirt cheap to get in and kept me amused for an hour or so.

The final feature of Zapopan is the former town gate. Way back when, it was the formal entrance to the town. Now it’s just a fine arch plonked at the end of the street.

Unlike Tlaquepaque, Zapopan isn’t a major tourist hot spot. Apart from the fine cathedral, it’s mainly a place for locals to hang out in the bars and cafes. That’s not to say it’s not interesting. It’s well worth a visit and a pleasant way to spend half a day or so.