Tlaquepaque Historical Tour

We meet at the Visitors’ Center, conveniently located adjacent to Avenida Niños Heroes, the road from Guadalajara´s city center.  Here you can be dropped off by your driver and when the tour is over depart in an Uber or taxi. If you’re carrying luggage, or make many purchases after the tour, you can leave these items in the lockers provided in the building. 

Before we enter the historic Calle Independencia (Walking Street) you’ll view several bronze sculptures telling stories of the town and the culture of Jalisco state.  These pieces, lovingly crafted by famous local artisans, are emblematic of Tlaquepaque’s history and the craftsmanship that has made it world famous.

In Tlaquepaque’s cobblestoned Andador or Walking Street, for two centuries Mexican families and international visitors have come to stroll Calle Independencia. During this part of our tour you’ll take in the splendor of  former mansions, today housing exquisitely decorated restaurants, museums, art galleries and shops selling an eye popping variety of hand made crafts, furniture, jewelry and much more. Please note that browsing inside these shops is NOT part of our itinerary, but when the tour is over you’ll have plenty of time for that. They stay open until 8pm. 

Part of the enjoyment of the stroll along Independence Street includes its open air gallery of spectacular sculptures, celebrating Mexican history and Tlaquepaque’s storied past. Recent works by Sergio Bustamante are prized for their distinctive style and also hold a prominent place in the artistic life of the street. When we near the end of the our we’ll visit a second open air collection of sculptures that pay a loving tribute to childhood. 

Tlaquepaque’s regional ceramics museum is well worth the thirty minutes we’ll spend learning about the former mansion, its colorful former owner “The Golden Donkey”, and of course its pottery exhibits. Tlaquepaque’s sculptors are world famous for their creation of miniature figurines and other styles of forming and decorating clay, and the museum’s curators have lovingly assembled displays of some of the most representative work they produced.  

Built in the mid 19th century, this historic complex with its cave like cellar and rooftop view of the town, once housed a psychiatric hospital run by nuns. It is now the town’s sprawling cultural exhibition center and the symbol of Tlaquepaque’s artisanal identity. Events of international importance take place here, including exhibitions, performances and lecture. The former hospital is rich in legends and ghost stories, and you’ll hear about some of them! No historic tour of Tlaquepaque is complete without a visit to El Refugio. 

Tlaquepaque’s Parish of Saint Peter the Apostle is over 300 years old and a hugely important feature of the town’s historic center, as is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Solitude with its gorgeous domed ceiling. We’ll stop long enough to appreciate these religious institutions, so important in the life of the town.   

Our final stop on the tours, this building once housed Tlaquepaque’s market selling everything under the sun including coffins. Once the domain of working men, today it’s home to 19 family friendly bars and restaurants, and lays claim to being the largest cantina in Latin America. Mariachi bands play, and there are performances of folkloric dancing.  Families enjoy regional dishes and drinks you’ll want to get to know.