The style of architecture prevalent in Europe during the founding of Guadalajara is paralleled in the city’s colonial buildings. The Metropolitan Cathedral and Teatro Degollado are the purest examples of neoclassical architecture. The historical center hosts religious and civil colonial buildings, which are noted for their architectural and historical significance and are a rich mix of styles which are rooted in indigenous cultural contributions (mainly from Ute origin), incorporated in the Mozarabic and castizo, and later in modern European influences (mainly French and Italian) and American (specifically, from the United States). The French-inspired “Lafayette” neighborhood has many fine examples of early 20th-century residences that were later converted into boutiques and restaurants.

The architectural forms of the colony are the product of French and Spanish architectural trends that during the founding of Guadalajara shone on the European continent and that in parallel left influence in this city. In the historic center you can see the purest example of neoclassical architecture starting with the metropolitan cathedral, the decapitated theater and surrounding buildings, in the Lafayette neighborhood this architectural style is found in residential mansions, a few converted into boutiques and restaurants. The historic center houses colonial buildings of religious and civil character, which stand out for their architectural and historical significance, and constitute a rich mixture of styles whose roots are in indigenous cultural contributions (mainly of Ute origin),incorporated into the Mozarabic and the Castizo, and later into modern European influences (mainly French and Italian) and American (specifically, those from the United States).

Guadalajara’s historical center has an excellent assortment of museums, theaters, galleries, libraries, auditoriums and concert halls, particular mention may be made to Hospicio Cabañas (which dates from the 18th century), the Teatro Degollado (considered the oldest opera house in Mexico), the Teatro Galerías and the Teatro Diana. The Hospicio Cabañas, which is home to some of the paintings (murals and easel) by José Clemente Orozco, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. Among the many structures of beauty is the International Headquarters Temple of La Luz del Mundo in Colonia Hermosa Provincia, which is the largest in Latin America.

During the Porfiriato the French style invaded the city because of the passion of former president Porfirio Díaz in the trends of French style, also Italian architects were responsible for shaping the Gothic structures that were built in the city. The passage of time reflected different trends from the baroque to churrigueresque, Gothic and neoclassical pure. Even the architectural lines typical of the decades of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s the Art Deco and bold lines of postmodern architects of the time. Architectural styles found in the city include Baroque, Viceregal, Neoclassical, Modern, Eclectic, Art Deco and Neo-Gothic.

The modern architecture of Guadalajara has numerous figures of different architectural production from the neo-regionalism to the primitiveness of the 60’s. Some of these architects are: Rafael Urzua, Luis Barragán, Ignacio Díaz Morales, Pedro Castellanos, Eric Coufal, Julio de la Peña, Eduardo Ibáñez Valencia, Félix Aceves Ortega

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