Tlaquepaque

City

San Pedro Tlaquepaque

San Pedro Tlaquepaque

Flag

Coat of arms

Nickname(s): Spanish: La villa alfarera
(English: Potter's village)

Tlaquepaque

Coordinates: 20°40′N 103°21′W / 20.667°N 103.350°WCoordinates: 20°40′N 103°21′W / 20.667°N 103.350°W

Country

Mexico

State

Jalisco

Region

Centro

Municipality

Tlaquepaque

Foundation

25 March 1530

Government

• Mayor

Alfredo Barba (PRI)

Area

• City

270 km² (100 sq mi)

Elevation

1,870 m (6,140 ft)

Population (2010)

• City

575,942

• Density

2,100/km² (5,500/sq mi)

• Metro

4,424,252

• Metro density

1,583/km² (4,100/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Tlaquepaquense

Time zone

CST (UTC−6)

• Summer (DST)

CDT (UTC−5)

Tlaquepaque (Spanish pronunciation: [tlakeˈpake]), historically San Pedro Tlaquepaque, 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 fully integrated part of the Guadalajara conurbation, lying only a few kilometres from the city centre. The city had a 2010 census population of 575,942, making it the third largest city in the state, behind only Guadalajara proper, and Zapopan, another city in the metro area. The municipality's area is 270.88 km² (104.59 sq mi) and lies adjacent to the south side of Guadalajara. Its largest community besides Tlaquepaque is the town of Santa Anita, at the municipality's southwestern corner.

The name Tlaquepaque derives from Nahuatl and means "place above clay land". The area is famous for its pottery and blown glass.

Tlaquepaque features El Parián, a large plaza flanked by columned arcades and surrounded by restaurants and bars. The main square in the city centre is known as El Jardín Hidalgo ("Hidalgo Garden"), named after Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the "Father of Mexican Independence." A larger-than-life statue of Hidalgo dominates the square. Other main features include the two important churches, El Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Solitude) and San Pedro (Saint Peter), and the Benito Juárez market.

During the annual San Pedro festivities, El Jardín is filled with stalls and street-sellers. On the day of San Pedro itself, towering firework-festooned structures known as the Castillo ("castle") and Toro ("bull") are set alight.

Tlaquepaque is known for its mariachi bands.

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Wikipedia