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Rotonda de los Jaliscenses Ilustres
Welcome to Jalisco's hall of fame. The plaza on the north side of the cathedral is ringed by 20 bronze sculptures of the state's favorite writers, architects, revolutionaries and a composer. Some of them are actually buried beneath the Rotonda de los Jaliscenses Ilustres, the round-pillared monument in the center. Before the macho city establishment added a woman to the mix, the rotunda was 'de los Hombres Ilustres.'
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Santuario de Nuestra Señora del Carmen
The Santuario de Nuestra Señora del Carmen - facing the small plaza on the corner of Av Juárez and 8 de Julio - is lovely with lots of gold leaf, old paintings and murals in the dome.
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Selva Mágica
Beside the zoo, off Calz Independencia Nte, is Selva Mágica, It has four large roller coasters and 5 live animal (dolphins, seals, birds) shows daily.
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Teatro Degollado
Construction on the neoclassical Teatro Degollado, home of the Guadalajara Philharmonic, was begun in 1856 and completed 30 years later. The five-tiered interior is swathed in red velvet and gold and is crowned by a Gerardo Suárez mural based on the fourth canto of Dante's Divine Comedy . Over the columns on its front is a frieze depicting Apollo and the Nine Muses. The Theater was renovated in 2005 and it has a new café.
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Templo de Aranzazú
On the corner of Av 16 de Septiembre and Blanco, the compact Templo de Aranzazú is perhaps the city's most beautiful. Built from 1749 to 1752, it has three ornate Churrigueresque golden altars and lovely ceiling detail. Come at dusk and see the stained glass glow.
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Templo de Santa María de Gracia
Six blocks east of the Templo Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes is the fairly unremarkable Templo de Santa María de Gracia, which served as the city's first cathedral (1549-1618).
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Templo Expiatorio
A block south of Museo de las Artes is the 1897 Gothic Templo Expiatorio, accented by enormous stone columns, 15m-high mosaic stained-glass windows and a kaleidoscopic steeple. At , noon and , a door in the clock tower opens and the 12 apostles march right out.
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Templo Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes
Close to the city center, on the corner of Loza and Av Hidalgo, is the ornate Templo Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, which was built in 1650; inside are several large paintings, crystal chandeliers and more gold leaf.
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Templo Santa Eduviges
The sanctuary at the Templo Santa Eduviges, built in 1726, is usually packed with worshippers and, during Mass, perfumed with clouds of sandalwood smoke. It's just south of the main market.
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Tlaquepaque
Tlaquepaque is an important center for arts production and contemporary design - and offers some of Mexico's fanciest shopping. Look for wood carvings, sculpture, furniture, ceramics, jewelry, leather items and paintings. Quality is high, as are prices. In the 19th century, Guadalajara's upper classes built substantial mansions here, which today house Tlaquepaque's most stylish restaurants, galleries and B&Bs.
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Tonalá
This dusty, bustling suburb is about 13km southeast of downtown Guadalajara and home to even more artisans. You can feel this town beginning to take Tlaquepaque's lead, with a few airy, inviting showrooms and cafés opening around town, but it remains happily rough around the edges. It's fun to roam through the dark, dusty stores and workshops. Anything you can buy in Tlaquepaque, you can find here for much less, which is what attracts wholesale buyers from all over the world.
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Zoológico Guadalajara
The Zoológico Guadalajara is a large zoo, with aviaries, a reptile house, a children's petting zoo and a train ride. Animals include lions, tigers and bears (oh my), as well as hippos, llamas and flamingos. The north end of the site provides a view of the Barranca de Oblatos, an impressive 670m (2198ft)-deep canyon. Selva Mágica children's amusement park and the planetarium are nearby.
