This article is about the Mexican city of Guadalajara. For other meanings, see Guadalajara (disambiguation) Guadalajara is a large city in the Western-Pacific region of Mexico, located at 20.67° N 103.35° W. Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco. Guadalajara Cathedral and Zócalo, 1974 It is the second most populous city in Mexico, with an estimated population of 4,640,000 people in 2004. The Guadalajara metropolitan area also includes the municipalities of Zapopan, Tlaquepaque, Tonalá, Tlajomulco, and Ixtlahuacán. The estimated population of the metropolitan area was 6.3 million in 2004. Guadalajara is known as La Perla del Occidente (Spanish for "Pearl of the West"), la Perla Tapatía ("tapatío" is an informal adjective of origin for people and things from Guadalajara) and, Ciudad de las Rosas. The city is also the birthplace of mariachi music and charreadas. The name of the city originates from the Arabic Wad-al-hidjara, meaning "River Running Between Rocks". The city refers to itself as the Silicon Valley of Mexico. Such high-technology companies as General Electric, IBM, Intel, Hitachi, and Hewlett Packard have facilities in the city or its suburbs. The Universidad de Guadalajara, the state's public university, has its headquarters here. Guadalajara is home to three popular soccer teams: Chivas, Atlas and Tecos. Cathedral by night Contents 1 American Capital of Culture 2 Transport 3 Megaprojects 4 Disaster 5 Cultural centers and Icons 6 See also 7 External links American Capital of Culture Guadalajara has several large public markets. On 28 October 2004 it was announced that Guadalajara was to be the American Capital of Culture for 2005. Such high-technology companies as General Electric, IBM, Intel, Hitachi, and Hewlett Packard have facilities in the city or its suburbs. Transport Guadalajara has the best bus system in Mexico, also have a electric train system named "tren ligero", and a airport Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport. Megaprojects There are four so-called megaprojects currently under development in Guadalajara: The Guggenheim Museum: Its location has been approved; budget and permissions were ok'd by the local government. Torrena: The largest cultural and economical center in the city, currently under construction. JVC Center: A huge complex of buildings and malls for cultural activities. On the drawing board. Universidad de Guadalajara: The university consists in 6 specialized campus spread all over the city: CUCS (Health: Medicine, Psychology...) CUCEI (Sciences: Engineering, Chemistry, Mechanics...) CUCEA (Economics: Business, Economics, International Commerce...) CUCSH (Social Studies: Law, Philosophy, Sociology...) CUAAD (Arts: Music, Architecture, Interior Design, Graphic Design...) CUCBA (Natural Sciences: Biology, Veterinary) and 5 other campus located across the state. The project is to gather the 6 CU's and locate them in only one mega-complex created from scratch. It will be a huge task to move all the buildings of 6 campus and to add new buildings like housing facilities (non-existent as of now). Disaster Main article Guadalajara is also famous for the great disaster of April 22, 1992, which took place in the downtown district of Analco. Numerous gasoline explosions in the sewer system during a period of four hours destroyed kilometers of streets; in particular, Gante street was the most damaged. Officially 206 people were killed, nearly 500 injured and 15,000 were left homeless. The affected area can even be recognized by the more modern architecture, in sheer contrast with the surrounding area, with much older buildings. Guadalajara is a site of major seismological activity with a high-scale earthquake occurring about every 80 years. Cultural centers and Icons Guadalajara is the second oldest "city" on México (Charles V gave Guadalajara that title after being founded), therefore it is full of ancient buildings. Catedral Metropolitana de Guadalajara: It's located on Avenida Alcalde (the main Street), it's the most important icon of the city, and head of the Catholic Church in the State. Plaza de Armas: (Arms Square) On the south side of the Cathedral, is the main square and served as a scenery for many important moments in Mexican History. On the center is a beautiful Art Deco Kiosk bought in France for the centenial of the Mexican War of Independence, the pillars are semi-nude women carrying musical instruments, and on the base of each one is written the inscription: Voltaire St. 5-D Paris, France. On each corner of the square there's a statue representing one of the four seasons. The Square, as most of the city, went through a mayor overhaul when it hosted the "Summit of State Heads of Latin America and the Caribbean". Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres: Located on the North side of the Cathedral, serves as a mausoleum for the most important politics, writers, artists and teachers born in the city. Plaza de La Liberación: (Freedoom Square) On the East side of the Cathedral, serves as a multipurpouse scenery for outdoor shows, political campaigns and all sorts of cultural events. receives it's name over the fact that Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla abolished slavery while he was on the Palacio de Gobierno on the South side of the square. It's surrounded by the Teatro Degollado, Palacio de Gobierno, Cathedral, The school of Music, The Church of Saint Agustin and the Supreme Court. Teatro Degollado: (Degollado Theater) Named after the Governor who ordered its construction, it's the most important cultural reference on the city, built during the government of President Porfirio Díaz because of the lack of a proper city Theater. It hosted some of the most important events and parties of the pre-revolutionary Guadalajara, during the Mexican Belle-Epoque. Plaza Fundadores: (Founder's Square) Behind the Teatro Degollado, it is the spot where the spanish gathered to found a new city they called "Guadalajara"; nowadays it serves as a reminder of the city's Spanish heritage. Teatro Diana: (Diana's Theater) Formerly known as "Cine Diana" (Diana movie theater), it fell out of business in the 70's and was left abandoned until in 2000 the Universidad de Guadalajara bought it and rebuilt it to create the largest theater in the city. Expo Guadalajara: Another building owned by the University, it is the largest and most modern multipurpouse area. Every year in November it hosts the FIL (International Book Fair), and in April it hosts Papirolas (a children-oriented fair). It's located a few blocks from Plaza del Sol, Guadalajara's World Trade Center and across the street from the Guadalajara Expo Hilton. Plaza del Sol: (Sun's Plaza) The largest outdoor mall in the city, it's located on one of the main economic centers of the city. Torrena: Located next to Plaza del Sol, it will open in 2007 as the largest comercial and cultural center in the city. The Minerva: A monument on the center of a fountain, with an oversized calendar made out of flowers, it welcomes tourists coming from Zapopan, and guards the Arcos de Guadalajara, one of the main entrances to the city, located on Avenida Vallarta. The main figure is a giant representation of Minerva with full armor on, holding a spear and a shield with Medusa's Head. It also becomes the "hotspot" where football (soccer to you "gringos") fans (both young and old) converge whenever the Mexican National Team or the local Chivas Rayadas del Guadalajara score a "key" victory. Galerias Guadalajara: Finished in 2004, it's the largest, most modern shopping mall in the city. It emulates American shopping malls and holds multiple brands of clothing, food and home accesories. See also Panteón de Belén Nuño Guzmán de Beltran, founder of Guadalajara External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: H. Ayuntamiento de Guadalajara Gobierno del Estado de Jalisco Virtual Tours of Guadalajara Mexico – See Guadalajara with free online 360-degree tours. Photographs of Guadalajara, 2003-2004 Photos of Guadalajara – Terra Galleria Social Web Page of people enjoying Guadalajaraca:Guadalajara (Mèxic) Search Term: "Guadalajara%2C_Jalisco" Categories: Mexican state capitals | Cities in Jalisco | Guadalajara | Guadalajara metropolitan area