​​​​Lost Paradises -  North and Central America

MEXICO - Guadalajara

Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco.. The city is in the central region of Jalisco in the Western-Pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,500,000 inhabitants, it is Mexico's third most populous city. Guadalajara is a major Mexican cultural center, as it is considered by most to be the home of the famous mariachi genre of music. The historic downtown of Guadalajara is the oldest section of the city, where it was founded and where the oldest buildings are. It centers on Paseo Morelos/Paseo Hospicio from the Plaza de Armas, where the seats of ecclesiastical and secular power are. Construction began on the Metropolitan Cathedral in 1558 and the church was consecrated in 1616. Its two towers were built in the 19th century after an earthquake destroyed the originals. They are considered one of the city's symbols. The architecture is a mix of Gothic, Baroque, Moorish and Neoclassical.