Religious statuary in Guadalajara, Mexico

Religious statuary in Guadalajara, Mexico

Two women stand in front of a glass-walled enclosure. Inside the enclosure is a religious statue most likely representing Joseph and a young Jesus. Guadalajara was founded soon after the conquest of Mexico in the sixteenth century and has grown to be one of Mexico's primary cities. It is the second largest city in Mexico, behind Mexico City, and is the industrial capital of the country. The city is famous for its manufacture of hardware and software for Mexico's technology industry. It is also a popular tourist destination for its blend of colonial sites and modern conveniences. The Guadalajara Cathedral, or Metropolitan Cathedral, was built during the colonial era. Construction began in in the 1560s and was completed over fifty years later. The original towers were destroyed in an earthquake in 1818; the current towers were constructed in the middle of the nineteenth century. Hence, the cathedral blends colonial and neo-classical architecture.