Zapopan
Encyclopedia
Zapopan is a city and municipality
located in the Mexican state of Jalisco
, which is part of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area
. It is best known as being the home of the Virgin of Zapopan, an image of the Virgin Mary which was made in the 16th century. This image has been credited with a number of miracles and has been recognized by popes and even visited by Pope John Paul II
. The municipality is also the home of the Centro Cultural Universitario, which contains one of the most important concert venues in Latin America
and is the home of the new stadium for the Chivas professional soccer team
.
The name Zapopan comes from the Nahuatl
word “tzapotl” which means among sapote
trees and the word “pan” which means among under. It also has the nickname of “Villa Exmaicera”(Ex-corn village) as it used to be a major producer of corn. Its seal was designed by José Trinidad Laris in 1941 for the 400th anniversary of the city’s founding.
families migrated into this area from the south, with many settling in the Profundo Arroyo area. These first settlers eventually mixed among themselves and with newcomers such as Aztec
s and eventually were known as Tecos. Many small shrines called “cues” were built here, mostly to worship the sun, although the primary deity was a god-child called Teopiltzintli or the corn god.
By the time the Spanish arrived Tzapopan was a fairly large settlement, but it was in decline due to wars with various surrounding nomadic tribes. It was subject to the dominion of Atemajac, also called Tlatoanazgo, which itself was subject to the Hueytlatoanazgo of Tonalá.
In 1530, this area was subdued by Nuño de Guzmán, but the establishment of a Spanish settlement of Zapopan did not happen until 1541 due to the Mixtón War. In that year Francisco de Bobadilla, encomendero of Tlatltenango moved 130 Indians from his lands to repopulate Zapopan. Accompanying them was an image of Our Lady of the Conception, which had traveled to areas like Zacatecas
as part of evangelization efforts. This statue would eventually take on the name of Our Lady of Zapopan. The sanctuary for this image was begun in 1689.
In 1824, Zapopan was named at the seat of one of the 26 department of the newly-created state of Jalisco. When the departments were reorganized in 1837, it retained its status as seat. In 1873, General Ramon Corona fought against rebel forces led by Manuel Lozada “El Tigre de Alica” at Rancho de la Mojonera.
In 1991, the town gained city status in a ceremony that took place on 8 December, the 450th anniversary of the city’s foundation.
In 1979, Pope John Paul II visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan
.
The Virgin of Zapopan is an image of Our Lady of the Conception which was made in Michoacán by native artisans in the early 16th century. She is 34 cm tall and made with corn stalks (caña de maiz), except for her hands which are made of wood. She was donated to the area for evangelization efforts by Antonio de Segova, and carried to Zapopan by Miguel de Bolonia, who had the image tied to his person. She is credited with bringing an end to the Mixtón War in the 16th century as well as relief from epidemics that plagued Guadalajara in the 17th century, a “miracle” that was affirmed by the bishop of the area. She was named the “General” (La Generela) of the Army of the Three Guarantees
in 1821, with her military title ratified in 1852 and 1894 by elements of the federal and state governments. She is still called by this alternate name. In 1919, she was crowned Queen of Jalisco by the Pope Benedict XV and in 1940 Pope Pius XII made her church a basilica.
Construction of the Basilica of Zapopan began in 1689. and finished in 1892. It has been modified and expanded since then. In front of the structure is a large atrium
. The atrium contains bronze statues of Antonio de Segovia, who donated the image of the Virgin in the 16th century and one of Pope John Paul II, with a child dressed as a charro
, who represents Jalisco. The facade is Plateresque
and the entrances have Ionic columns
and coats of arms. The main altar is made of marble from Carrara
and cypress
with the image of the Virgin of Zapopan in a glass case at the top. Another important sculpture is that of the Holy Family, which has been in the church since 1832. It was sculpted by Victoriano Acuña. Part of the basilica building is dedicated to the Huichol Museum. The museum is dedicated to the art and culture of the Huichol people as well as some displays from the Tepehuán
and Cora
peoples. Another section of the basilica houses the Museum of the Virgin of Zapopan, where offerings left for the image can be seen as well as items that have been used for her worship over the centuries.
Annually, a large procession in this image’s honor takes place on the 12th of October, Columbus Day
(called “Día de la Raza” (Day of the Race) in Spanish) . This tradition started in 1734, when this image was named the patron of Guadalajara and the protector against epidemics, storms and other calamities. Starting at 6 am, the image is carried on the streets from the Guadalajara Cathedral
to the Basilica of Zapopan. The streets, including the wide avenue of Manuel Avila Camacho in Zapopan proper, are packed with dancers, vendors selling traditional food and crafts and spectators. The image stops periodically to receive homage from the many traditional dance groups and mariachi
bands along the way. Traditional dances include include “Los Tastoanes,” “La Danza del Águila Real,” “la de La Conquista” and “Los Huehuenches.” Once returned to her home at the Basilica, celebrations continue and end with fireworks at night.
The Plaza de las Américas-Juan Pablo II is located in front of the Basilica of Zapopan, and paved with pink quarried stone. It contains a quarried stone kiosk and four large fountains. There are also two large sculptures in bronze depicting the god and goddess of corn, done by Juan Méndez.
The main walking corridor of the city is Andador 20 de Noviembre, which is lined with bars, galleries and restaurants. On Saturdays, the artists and antique dealers display their wares for sale.
The municipal palace was constructed in 1942 to be a school. It became the seat of the municipal government in 1968 and has been remodeled several times since then. The facade is decorated with reliefs, and the building’s staircase contains a mural called “La Revolución Universal” (The Universal Revolution) done by Guadalajara artist Guillermo Chavez Vega in 1970. This mural depicts scenes from the French, Industrial, English, Mexican and Socialist Revolutions. It also contains images of indigenous art. In front of the municipal palace is the Plaza Civica or Civic Plaza, which contains a seven-meter flagpole and a bronze sculpture of an eagle devouring a serpent.
The Municipal Cultural Center, built in 1979, holds exhibitions of fine art as well as theatrical and dance events. Next to it is the Plaza del Arte (Art Plaza) which is decorated with arches and columns of quarried stone and three permanent sculptures. The main mural of the building is entitled “La Historia de la Villa y la Revolución Mexicana” (The story of the village and the Mexican Revolution
) painted in 1980 by Ricardo Peña. It also contains twenty three other murals done by art students over the years.
Zapopan is the site of the new soccer stadium of the Guadalajara team “Chivas.” The Stadium is being built next to the Bosque de la Primavera, in the northwest of the Guadalajara Metropolitan area, just off the Anillo Periferico ring road and Avenida Vallarta. The stadium covers 147000 square metre and has seating for over 45,000 people.
The Temple of San Pedro Apóstol was finished at the end of the 19th century and is of Neoclassical design. The atrium wall contains a balustrade and the atrium contains two large crosses with relieves carved on them. The facade of the church is made of quarried stone with buttresses that flank the portal and side walls. Inside is a sculpture of Saint Peter
, done by J. Cruz de la Mora in 1931, who was a native of Zapopan. The church also contains a painting from the 17th century done by Juan Correa
called “The Baptism of Jesus.”
The Centro Cultural Universitario is an ongoing project among the University of Guadalajara, the municipality of Zapopan, the state of Jalisco and the federal government to create a major cultural venue in the west of Mexico. The main structure here is the Auditorio Telmex, which is one of the most important concert venues in Latin America. There is also the Foro Alterno (Alternate Forum) which seats 15,000 people. The project was begun in 2001 and other institutions here include the Juan José Arreola
State Library of Jalisco, the Conjunto de Artes Escenicas (Scenic Arts Complex) and the Environmental Science Museum.
Other cultural venues in the city are the Galerías Theater, the Museo de Arte de Zapopan and the Museo de Cacería Albarrán. The Galerías Theater was inaugurated in 1991 and is the site of modern musicals, concerts, cultural festivals and conventions. The Museo de Arte de Zapopan (Zapopan Art Museum) presents permanent and temporary exhibitions as well as workshops. It is located in front of the Plaza Civica. Museo de Cacería "Albarrán" (Albarrán Hunting Museum) has a Sudanese style facade. In this museum are three halls which exhibit 270 hunting trophies from many parts of the world, some of which are the full animals but most are heads. The building is of modern design and the collection belonged to Benito Albarrán, a renowned game hunter.
, Gloria Trevi
and Ricardo Montaner
. The event has attracted as many as 800,000 people in past years.
, San Cristóbal de la Barranca
, Tlajomulco de Zuñiga
, Tlaquepaque
, Guadalajara, Ixtlahuacán del Río
, Tala
, Arenal and Amatitlán
.
Most of the municipality is flat with another quarter having rolling hills. Altitude varies from 1,500 to 2,000 meters above sea level. The main elevations are in the Sierra de la Primavera and include Nejahuete, Tajo and El Chapulin. Superficial water flows mostly in arroyos
east to the Grande or Santiago River. In the center of the municipality there are three dams called the Copalita, the Santa Lucia and the San Jose. Winters here are mild and usually are noticeable only in the higher elevations. Average year-round temperature is 22C with highs of 36C and lows of 11C. Rain principally falls from June to October. Vegetation in the municipality varies from pines and holm oak
s in the Sierra de la Primavera and species such as jonote (Heliocarpus appendiculatus), strawberry trees and nopal
s in the lower elevations. While wildlife has nearly disappeared from this area, the Bosque el Nixticuil
on the northern edge of the urban sprawl has been designated as a protected natural area and still is home to many mammals, reptiles, amphibian
s, birds and insects.
About three-quarters of the municipality’s land is used for agriculture and livestock. About fifteen percent is forested and the remaining is dedicated to the city of Zapopan. The principle crops are corn, sorghum
, squash, tomatoes, chickpea
s, avocado
s, mango
s and plums. Some livestock such as cattle, pigs and domestic fowl are raised. Agriculture employs less than three percent of the population. About a third of the population is employed in industry and manufacturing. Major companies that have facilities here include Kodak, Motorola
and Coca Cola. The rest of the population is involved in commerce and services.
Tourism is mostly focused on the Basilica of Zapopan and other local churches; however, outside the city there are a number of natural attractions such as Ixcatán Geyers and the La Cola de Caballo waterfall. At the Santa Lucia dam one can fish and go out on rowboats. Cola de Caballo is a 150 meter tall waterfall which is part of the Blanco Arroyo. The Geyers of Ixcatan are geothermic zone with a number of geyers which jump out with a temperature of 45C up to five meters high. At Cerro del Diente are large rocks where mountain climbing, rock climbing and rappelling are practiced.The Barranca del Río Santiago, also known as the Barranca del Oblatos is a canyon which 3.5 km wide, 700 meters deep and 200 km long. The Bosque de la Primavera (Primavera Forest) covers 30,500 hectares over the Sierra de la Primavera. The forest rea has both fresh water and thermal springs and varied plant and wildlife. There are a number of signaled hiking trails with signs pointing out interesting points and plants. Another forest in the municipality is the Bosque El Centinela, which is an area that was reforested in the late 1970s and has mountain biking paths and campgrounds. A number of water parks such as Rio Caliente and La Primavera have been established.
The municipality has three main archeological sites. Ixtépete contains a Teotihuacan style pyramid which is twenty meters long, sixteen meters wide and 1.83 meters high. Construction phases of this pyramid date back from the 5th century to the 10th century. El Grillo is located in the Tabachines housing subdivision in the north of the Valley of Atemajac. This site has a series of fourteen tombs arranged along an arroyo which is now dry. La Coronilla is located in an area called La Experiencia. In and around the city of Zapopan, there have been finding of ancient tombs. One example is when about a dozen pre-Hispanic objects were found during a hydraulic work excavation at Ciudad Granja, in Zapopan, Jalisco. A pot, a vase and anthropomorphic figures are among the items discovered. These objects are of the Shaft Tombs
Tradition which developed between 100 BCE and 500 CE in western Mexico. Further excavations are planned to search for a shaft tomb. The initial discovery was made by construction workers in May 2009 while doing maintenance work.
The La Mojonera Ranch is the site of the confrontation between government forces under General Ramón Corona and rebels led by Manuel Lozada
“El Tigre de Alicia” on 28 January 1873. The event is called the Battle of La Mojonera.
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.
Municipalities of Mexico
Municipalities are the second-level administrative division in Mexico . There are 2,438 municipalities in Mexico, making the average municipality population 45,616...
located in the Mexican state of Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
, which is part of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area
Guadalajara Metropolitan Area
The Guadalajara Metropolitan Area is the most populous metropolitan area of the Mexican state of Jalisco and the second largest in the country after Greater Mexico City...
. It is best known as being the home of the Virgin of Zapopan, an image of the Virgin Mary which was made in the 16th century. This image has been credited with a number of miracles and has been recognized by popes and even visited by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. The municipality is also the home of the Centro Cultural Universitario, which contains one of the most important concert venues in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
and is the home of the new stadium for the Chivas professional soccer team
C.D. Guadalajara
Club Deportivo Guadalajara , is a Mexican professional football club based in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Guadalajara plays in the Primera División de México and is the most successful club in Mexican football, having won 11 First Division titles, 7 Campeón de Campeones and 2 Copa México...
.
The name Zapopan comes from the Nahuatl
Nahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
word “tzapotl” which means among sapote
Sapote
Sapote is a term for a soft, edible fruit. The word is incorporated into the common names of several unrelated fruit-bearing plants native to Mexico, Central America and northern parts of South America....
trees and the word “pan” which means among under. It also has the nickname of “Villa Exmaicera”(Ex-corn village) as it used to be a major producer of corn. Its seal was designed by José Trinidad Laris in 1941 for the 400th anniversary of the city’s founding.
History
From 1160 to 1325 a large number of Zapotec, Nahua and MayaMaya peoples
The Maya people constitute a diverse range of the Native American people of southern Mexico and northern Central America. The overarching term "Maya" is a collective designation to include the peoples of the region who share some degree of cultural and linguistic heritage; however, the term...
families migrated into this area from the south, with many settling in the Profundo Arroyo area. These first settlers eventually mixed among themselves and with newcomers such as Aztec
Aztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
s and eventually were known as Tecos. Many small shrines called “cues” were built here, mostly to worship the sun, although the primary deity was a god-child called Teopiltzintli or the corn god.
By the time the Spanish arrived Tzapopan was a fairly large settlement, but it was in decline due to wars with various surrounding nomadic tribes. It was subject to the dominion of Atemajac, also called Tlatoanazgo, which itself was subject to the Hueytlatoanazgo of Tonalá.
In 1530, this area was subdued by Nuño de Guzmán, but the establishment of a Spanish settlement of Zapopan did not happen until 1541 due to the Mixtón War. In that year Francisco de Bobadilla, encomendero of Tlatltenango moved 130 Indians from his lands to repopulate Zapopan. Accompanying them was an image of Our Lady of the Conception, which had traveled to areas like Zacatecas
Zacatecas
Zacatecas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Zacatecas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is Zacatecas....
as part of evangelization efforts. This statue would eventually take on the name of Our Lady of Zapopan. The sanctuary for this image was begun in 1689.
In 1824, Zapopan was named at the seat of one of the 26 department of the newly-created state of Jalisco. When the departments were reorganized in 1837, it retained its status as seat. In 1873, General Ramon Corona fought against rebel forces led by Manuel Lozada “El Tigre de Alica” at Rancho de la Mojonera.
In 1991, the town gained city status in a ceremony that took place on 8 December, the 450th anniversary of the city’s foundation.
In 1979, Pope John Paul II visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan
Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan
The Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan and the abbey of Our Lady of Expectation of Zapopan are a Franciscan sanctuary built in the heart of Zapopan in the state of Jalisco, México. The church belongs to the Franciscan province of Sts...
.
The Virgin of Zapopan and her basilica
Army of the Three Guarantees
At the end of the Mexican War of Independence, the Army of the Three Guarantees was the name given to the army after the unification of the Spanish troops led by Agustín de Iturbide and the Mexican insurgent troops of Vicente Guerrero, consolidating Mexico's independence from Spain...
in 1821, with her military title ratified in 1852 and 1894 by elements of the federal and state governments. She is still called by this alternate name. In 1919, she was crowned Queen of Jalisco by the Pope Benedict XV and in 1940 Pope Pius XII made her church a basilica.
Construction of the Basilica of Zapopan began in 1689. and finished in 1892. It has been modified and expanded since then. In front of the structure is a large atrium
Atrium (architecture)
In modern architecture, an atrium is a large open space, often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows, often situated within a larger multistory building and often located immediately beyond the main entrance doors...
. The atrium contains bronze statues of Antonio de Segovia, who donated the image of the Virgin in the 16th century and one of Pope John Paul II, with a child dressed as a charro
Charro
Charro is a term referring to a traditional horseman from Mexico, originating in the central-western regions primarily in the state of Jalisco including: Zacatecas, Durango, Guanajuato, Morelos, Puebla...
, who represents Jalisco. The facade is Plateresque
Plateresque
Plateresque, meaning "in the manner of a silversmith" , was an artistic movement, especially architectural, traditionally held to be exclusive to Spain and its territories, which appeared between the late Gothic and early Renaissance in the late 15th century, and spread over the next two centuries...
and the entrances have Ionic columns
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
and coats of arms. The main altar is made of marble from Carrara
Carrara
Carrara is a city and comune in the province of Massa-Carrara , notable for the white or blue-grey marble quarried there. It is on the Carrione River, some west-northwest of Florence....
and cypress
Cypress
Cypress is the name applied to many plants in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is a conifer of northern temperate regions. Most cypress species are trees, while a few are shrubs...
with the image of the Virgin of Zapopan in a glass case at the top. Another important sculpture is that of the Holy Family, which has been in the church since 1832. It was sculpted by Victoriano Acuña. Part of the basilica building is dedicated to the Huichol Museum. The museum is dedicated to the art and culture of the Huichol people as well as some displays from the Tepehuán
Tepehuán
The Tepehuán are a Native American ethnic group in northwest Mexico, whose villages at the time of Spanish conquest spanned a large territory along the Sierra Madre Occidental from Chihuahua and Durango in the north to Jalisco in the south...
and Cora
Cora people
The Cora are an indigenous ethnic group of Western Central Mexico that live in the Sierra de Nayarit and in La Mesa de Nayar in the Mexican states of Jalisco and Nayarit. They call themselves náayarite , whence the name of the present day Mexican state of Nayarit...
peoples. Another section of the basilica houses the Museum of the Virgin of Zapopan, where offerings left for the image can be seen as well as items that have been used for her worship over the centuries.
Annually, a large procession in this image’s honor takes place on the 12th of October, Columbus Day
Columbus Day
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday...
(called “Día de la Raza” (Day of the Race) in Spanish) . This tradition started in 1734, when this image was named the patron of Guadalajara and the protector against epidemics, storms and other calamities. Starting at 6 am, the image is carried on the streets from the Guadalajara Cathedral
Guadalajara Cathedral
The Guadalajara Cathedral or Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady , located in Guadalajara, Jalisco, is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara and a minor basilica. It is built in the Renaissance style, with neo-gothic towers....
to the Basilica of Zapopan. The streets, including the wide avenue of Manuel Avila Camacho in Zapopan proper, are packed with dancers, vendors selling traditional food and crafts and spectators. The image stops periodically to receive homage from the many traditional dance groups and mariachi
Mariachi
Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind,...
bands along the way. Traditional dances include include “Los Tastoanes,” “La Danza del Águila Real,” “la de La Conquista” and “Los Huehuenches.” Once returned to her home at the Basilica, celebrations continue and end with fireworks at night.
Other landmarks
On Paseo Teopiltzintli, which was the main thoroughfare into the city, is the Arco de Ingreso a Zapopan (Entrance Arch), built by the Spanish founders of the city. It is made of quarried stone and is twenty meters high. The arch area is decorated with sculptures and the arch itself is topped with large jars and an eagle. The Paseo Teopiltzintli leads to the Plaza de las Americas, after passing the Plaza Civica.The Plaza de las Américas-Juan Pablo II is located in front of the Basilica of Zapopan, and paved with pink quarried stone. It contains a quarried stone kiosk and four large fountains. There are also two large sculptures in bronze depicting the god and goddess of corn, done by Juan Méndez.
The main walking corridor of the city is Andador 20 de Noviembre, which is lined with bars, galleries and restaurants. On Saturdays, the artists and antique dealers display their wares for sale.
The municipal palace was constructed in 1942 to be a school. It became the seat of the municipal government in 1968 and has been remodeled several times since then. The facade is decorated with reliefs, and the building’s staircase contains a mural called “La Revolución Universal” (The Universal Revolution) done by Guadalajara artist Guillermo Chavez Vega in 1970. This mural depicts scenes from the French, Industrial, English, Mexican and Socialist Revolutions. It also contains images of indigenous art. In front of the municipal palace is the Plaza Civica or Civic Plaza, which contains a seven-meter flagpole and a bronze sculpture of an eagle devouring a serpent.
The Municipal Cultural Center, built in 1979, holds exhibitions of fine art as well as theatrical and dance events. Next to it is the Plaza del Arte (Art Plaza) which is decorated with arches and columns of quarried stone and three permanent sculptures. The main mural of the building is entitled “La Historia de la Villa y la Revolución Mexicana” (The story of the village and the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
) painted in 1980 by Ricardo Peña. It also contains twenty three other murals done by art students over the years.
The Temple of San Pedro Apóstol was finished at the end of the 19th century and is of Neoclassical design. The atrium wall contains a balustrade and the atrium contains two large crosses with relieves carved on them. The facade of the church is made of quarried stone with buttresses that flank the portal and side walls. Inside is a sculpture of Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
, done by J. Cruz de la Mora in 1931, who was a native of Zapopan. The church also contains a painting from the 17th century done by Juan Correa
Juan Correa
Juan Correa was a Mexican painter of mixed Moorish or African, Indian and Spanish heritage. His years of greatest activity were from 1671 to 1716. He painted many religious-themed, Baroque paintings for cathedrals in Mexico. Correa was José de Ibarra's teacher...
called “The Baptism of Jesus.”
The Centro Cultural Universitario is an ongoing project among the University of Guadalajara, the municipality of Zapopan, the state of Jalisco and the federal government to create a major cultural venue in the west of Mexico. The main structure here is the Auditorio Telmex, which is one of the most important concert venues in Latin America. There is also the Foro Alterno (Alternate Forum) which seats 15,000 people. The project was begun in 2001 and other institutions here include the Juan José Arreola
Juan José Arreola
Juan José Arreola Zúñiga was a Mexican writer and academic. He is considered Mexico's premier experimental short story writer of the twentieth century. Arreola is recognized as one of the first Latin American writers to abandon realism; he uses elements of fantasy to underscore existentialist and...
State Library of Jalisco, the Conjunto de Artes Escenicas (Scenic Arts Complex) and the Environmental Science Museum.
Other cultural venues in the city are the Galerías Theater, the Museo de Arte de Zapopan and the Museo de Cacería Albarrán. The Galerías Theater was inaugurated in 1991 and is the site of modern musicals, concerts, cultural festivals and conventions. The Museo de Arte de Zapopan (Zapopan Art Museum) presents permanent and temporary exhibitions as well as workshops. It is located in front of the Plaza Civica. Museo de Cacería "Albarrán" (Albarrán Hunting Museum) has a Sudanese style facade. In this museum are three halls which exhibit 270 hunting trophies from many parts of the world, some of which are the full animals but most are heads. The building is of modern design and the collection belonged to Benito Albarrán, a renowned game hunter.
Zapopum
The Zapopum Festival started out as the municipal fair of Zapopan in 2005. However, since then, it has morphed into a major cultural event for the city. It aims to be “a cultural reference point, whose purpose is to spread culture and bring it to the public who is accustomed to other types of shows.” The 2009 event featured acrobats and circus acts from countries such as Spain, England, Germany and Italy. Some of these were “Alicia en los cielos” y the Spanish group Puja!, “Cupidos” and “Esferas” by Australian group Strange Fruit and performances by French mime Jerôme Murat. There are also workshops, themed pavilions and shows by popular Mexican artists such as Marco Antonio MuñizMarco Antonio Muñiz
Marco Antonio Muñiz is a singer from Jalisco, Mexico. Known all over Latin America, Muñiz actually has declared publicly and in most countries he has visited, that Puerto Rico is his second country, and many Puerto Ricans consider him to be an "honorary Puerto Rican"...
, Gloria Trevi
Gloria Trevi
Gloria Trevi is a Mexican pop-rock singer-songwriter. She was described as the "Supreme Diva of the Mexican Pop" by the music channel VH1 and sold over 20 million records.-Biography:...
and Ricardo Montaner
Ricardo Montaner
Ricardo Montaner is an Argentine-Venezuelan singer and songwriter. Starting his career in the early 80s, he has already released more than 15 albums with numerous successful singles and has sold over 22 million record worldwide.-Early years:Montaner was born as Héctor Eduardo Reglero Montaner, in...
. The event has attracted as many as 800,000 people in past years.
The municipality
As municipal seat, the city of Zapopan is the local government for approximately 750 other communities, called localities, which together form a territory of 893.15km2. Almost 90% of the municipality’s population lives in the city proper. Zapopan is the most populous municipality in the state of Jalisco and ranks seventh in Mexico. Aside from the seat, the most important localities are Nuevo México, San Francisco Tesistán, Valle Real, La Venta del Astillero, La Magdalena (San José Ejidal), Nextipac, Ciudad Bugambilias, Base Aérea Militar de la XV Zona, San Esteban (San Miguel Tateposco) . This municipality is bordered by the municipalities of TequilaTequila, Jalisco
Santiago de Tequila is a town and municipality located in the state of Jalisco about 60 km from the city of Guadalajara. Tequila is best known as being the birthplace of the drink that bears its name, “tequila,” which is made from the blue agave plant, native to this area. The heart of the...
, San Cristóbal de la Barranca
San Cristobal de la Barranca
San Cristóbal de la Barranca is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 636.93 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 3,207....
, Tlajomulco de Zuñiga
Tlajomulco de Zuñiga
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico in the state of Jalisco. It forms part of the Guadalajara metropolitan area and lies to the southeast of it...
, Tlaquepaque
Tlaquepaque
Tlaquepaque , historically San Pedro or Georgetown, is a city and the surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of Jalisco. During the 20th century it was absorbed by the outward spread of the state capital and is now a neighbourhood of the Guadalajara conurbation, lying only a few kilometres...
, Guadalajara, Ixtlahuacán del Río
Ixtlahuacán del Río
Ixtlahuacán del Rio is a town and municipality in the center of the Mexican state of Jalisco, a little less than 50 kilometers from state capital Guadalajara...
, Tala
Tala, Jalisco
Tala is a village and a municipality in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. It is a small town that has grown over the years....
, Arenal and Amatitlán
Amatitlán
Amatitlán is a town in the Guatemala department of Guatemala. The main industry of the town during colonial times was the preparation of cochineal...
.
Most of the municipality is flat with another quarter having rolling hills. Altitude varies from 1,500 to 2,000 meters above sea level. The main elevations are in the Sierra de la Primavera and include Nejahuete, Tajo and El Chapulin. Superficial water flows mostly in arroyos
Arroyo (creek)
An arroyo , a Spanish word translated as brook, and also called a wash is usually a dry creek or stream bed—gulch that temporarily or seasonally fills and flows after sufficient rain. Wadi is a similar term in Africa. In Spain, a rambla has a similar meaning to arroyo.-Types and processes:Arroyos...
east to the Grande or Santiago River. In the center of the municipality there are three dams called the Copalita, the Santa Lucia and the San Jose. Winters here are mild and usually are noticeable only in the higher elevations. Average year-round temperature is 22C with highs of 36C and lows of 11C. Rain principally falls from June to October. Vegetation in the municipality varies from pines and holm oak
Holm Oak
Quercus ilex, the Holm Oak or Holly Oak is a large evergreen oak native to the Mediterranean region. It takes its name from holm, an ancient name for holly...
s in the Sierra de la Primavera and species such as jonote (Heliocarpus appendiculatus), strawberry trees and nopal
Nopal
Nopales are a vegetable made from the young cladode segments of prickly pear, carefully peeled to remove the spines. These fleshy pads are flat and about hand-sized. They can be purple or green...
s in the lower elevations. While wildlife has nearly disappeared from this area, the Bosque el Nixticuil
Bosque el Nixticuil
The Bosque el Nixticuil is a old-growth forest located northwest of the Metropolitan Zone of Guadalajara in the Mexican town of Zapopan. An urban forest, it is encroached by the metropolitan area's constant growth. It is mostly composed of oak, holm oak and pine.It is a remnant of a larger, now...
on the northern edge of the urban sprawl has been designated as a protected natural area and still is home to many mammals, reptiles, amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
s, birds and insects.
About three-quarters of the municipality’s land is used for agriculture and livestock. About fifteen percent is forested and the remaining is dedicated to the city of Zapopan. The principle crops are corn, sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, squash, tomatoes, chickpea
Chickpea
The chickpea is a legume of the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae...
s, avocado
Avocado
The avocado is a tree native to Central Mexico, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel...
s, mango
Mango
The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
s and plums. Some livestock such as cattle, pigs and domestic fowl are raised. Agriculture employs less than three percent of the population. About a third of the population is employed in industry and manufacturing. Major companies that have facilities here include Kodak, Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
and Coca Cola. The rest of the population is involved in commerce and services.
Tourism is mostly focused on the Basilica of Zapopan and other local churches; however, outside the city there are a number of natural attractions such as Ixcatán Geyers and the La Cola de Caballo waterfall. At the Santa Lucia dam one can fish and go out on rowboats. Cola de Caballo is a 150 meter tall waterfall which is part of the Blanco Arroyo. The Geyers of Ixcatan are geothermic zone with a number of geyers which jump out with a temperature of 45C up to five meters high. At Cerro del Diente are large rocks where mountain climbing, rock climbing and rappelling are practiced.The Barranca del Río Santiago, also known as the Barranca del Oblatos is a canyon which 3.5 km wide, 700 meters deep and 200 km long. The Bosque de la Primavera (Primavera Forest) covers 30,500 hectares over the Sierra de la Primavera. The forest rea has both fresh water and thermal springs and varied plant and wildlife. There are a number of signaled hiking trails with signs pointing out interesting points and plants. Another forest in the municipality is the Bosque El Centinela, which is an area that was reforested in the late 1970s and has mountain biking paths and campgrounds. A number of water parks such as Rio Caliente and La Primavera have been established.
The municipality has three main archeological sites. Ixtépete contains a Teotihuacan style pyramid which is twenty meters long, sixteen meters wide and 1.83 meters high. Construction phases of this pyramid date back from the 5th century to the 10th century. El Grillo is located in the Tabachines housing subdivision in the north of the Valley of Atemajac. This site has a series of fourteen tombs arranged along an arroyo which is now dry. La Coronilla is located in an area called La Experiencia. In and around the city of Zapopan, there have been finding of ancient tombs. One example is when about a dozen pre-Hispanic objects were found during a hydraulic work excavation at Ciudad Granja, in Zapopan, Jalisco. A pot, a vase and anthropomorphic figures are among the items discovered. These objects are of the Shaft Tombs
Shaft tomb
A shaft tomb or shaft grave is a type of burial structure formed from a deep and narrow shaft sunk into natural rock. Burials were then placed at the bottom...
Tradition which developed between 100 BCE and 500 CE in western Mexico. Further excavations are planned to search for a shaft tomb. The initial discovery was made by construction workers in May 2009 while doing maintenance work.
The La Mojonera Ranch is the site of the confrontation between government forces under General Ramón Corona and rebels led by Manuel Lozada
Manuel Lozada
General Manuel Lozada, nicknamed The Tigre of Alicá, was a Mexican bandit and insurgent. He was an Indian or mestizo of the Cora tribe. He was the son of Norberto García and Cecilia González.His father died when he was young and his mother lacked the means to raise him...
“El Tigre de Alicia” on 28 January 1873. The event is called the Battle of La Mojonera.
International
Antigua, Guatemala Cartago, Costa RicaCartago, Costa Rica
- See also :* Cartago Agrarian Union Party* Provincial Integration Party Three* Cartago in Spanish...
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Kiriat Bialik, Israel Marianao, Cuba Changwon, Republic of Korea
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Changwon is a city in and the capital of Gyeongsangnam-do in South Korea. Changwon city is 8th most populous city in South Korea, with a 2010 established population of 1,089,039. It encompasses a land area of on southeastern of South Korea. The population of Southeastern part of Korea, that...
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San Pedro Sula is a city in Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country, in the Valle de Sula , about 60 km south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean. With an estimated population of 638,259 people in the main municipality, and 802,598 in its metro area , it is the second...
Within Mexico
Atengo, JaliscoAtengo
Atengo is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of ....
Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit
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Bahía de Banderas is both a bay and a municipality in the Mexican state of Nayarit.The bay, site of the tourist destination Puerto Vallarta, is bounded on the north by Punta Mita and on the south by Cape Corrientes...
El Grullo, Jalisco
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El Grullo is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 157.2 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 21,825....
Veracruz, Veracruz
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Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
Zapotlán el Grande, Jalisco
Zapotlán el Grande
Zapotlán el Grande is a municipality in the Mexican state of Jalisco. There are several meaninings given to the root name of the "Zapotlán el Grande" "TzapoTl is the name given to all the round fruits from the general region...
.