GUADALAJARA! (2)Guadalajara was founded in 1542 by the Spanish. It served as the capital of the colonial region of New Galicia until 1821 when Mexico won its independence from Spain.

Also facing the Zocalo is the Government Palace which dates back to 1774. It is the seat of the government of the state of Jalisco.
 

Inside the Government
Palace is a mural
painting by the famous
artist and native son,
Clemente Orozco. It
depicts Miguel
Hidalgo, the village
priest who in 1810
began the struggle for
Mexico's independence
from Spain.
 

Behind the Cathedral and the Government Palace is another plaza, this one called Plaza de la Liberacion. It is dominated by the neoclassical Degollado Theatre.
 

On the Plaza de la
Liberacion is a statue
of Miguel Hidalgo, the
father of Mexican
independence, breaking
the chains of slavery.
It was here in
Guadalajara that
Hidalgo proclaimed the
emancipation of the
slaves.