Don’t Miss Zapopan for Wixaritari Art and Catholic History When You Visit Guadalajara

Zapopan is the second largest city in the state of Jalisco (after Guadalajara). Home of the Centro Cultural Universitario and the new stadium of the Guadalajara football club, Zapopan is also a great place to learn more about Wixaritari art and culture.

Minutes from central Guadalajara, the main plaza at the Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan is a family gathering place with fountains for children to play in, restaurants, ice cream carts and beautiful, brightly colored stalls where Wixarika sell their beaded jewelry and intricately embroidered bags. IdealThread artist, Leo, can often be found selling her work here.

The Basilica houses a small museum dedicated to Wixaritari culture and history, the Museo de Arte Huichol. Its exhibits include information on Wixaritari history in the region, religious beliefs and examples of their yarn paintings and beadwork. You can also shop in the museum’s store. The downtown is a wonderful place to stroll and take in art and sculpture.

Various indigenous groups (including Zapotec, Nahua and Maya) migrated to Zapopan between 1160 to 1325, establishing a multi-cultural settlement and religious center. When the Spanish arrived a few hundred years later, the city was declining due to years of conflict with nomadic tribes, and they conquered the area in 1541 with little difficulty.

When the Spanish took over, they brought an important medieval Catholic icon with them, Our Lady of the Conception. They built the impressive Zapopan Basilica to house it, and each year in October, there is a pilgrimage for the icon that draws nearly a million people. She has been named the Patroness of Jalisco and of storms and lightening. Catholics travel from around the world to see the statue which has been officially recognized by the Catholic Church for its miracles.