Tlaquepaque, Jalisco

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°W / 20.667; -103.350Coordinates: 20°40′N 103°21′W / 20.667°N 103.350°W / 20.667; -103.350
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.