25 Beautiful Churches in Guadalajara Jalisco Mexico
Are you looking for some of the finest examples of religious architecture in Mexico?
You are in luck because Guadalajara is a very religious city with a long history. Throughout the centuries great wealth has been allocated to the construction of places of worship. The vast majority of these places of worship are Catholic churches. The churches of Guadalajara represent some of the best examples of architecture from each given era.
I have lived in Guadalajara since 2009 and continue to learn about the history of this fine city. This is where I studied Catechism and really got interested in religious architecture.
If you have a chance to read Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet the process of building massive temples becomes much more personal. The first time I read it, I would visit the historic churches in Guadalajara, touch the columns, and think about the stone mason that used a chisel and hammer to shape such a magnificent structure.
Churches in Guadalajara Overview
The style of religious architecture in Guadalajara has evolved over the centuries. The city was founded at its current location in 1542 and there are a number of churches that date back to the 16th century.
Considering the size of Guadalajara and its long history, it is no surprise that there is a diverse selection of Catholic buildings. There are many different orders of the Catholic religion but not as many world religions as one might find in Los Angeles or New York.
I hope that somebody reading this article with connections to a Jewish temple or Islamic mosque will invite me in to take pictures.
Without further ado, let’s have a look at the most beautiful churches in Guadalajara.
1. Catedral de la Asunción de María Santísima (Guadalajara Cathedral)
The Guadalajara Cathedral is by far the most recognizable church in Guadalajara and this part of Mexico. The bell towers of the minor basilica are emblematic of the city of Guadalajara. They have been recreated into the logos of numerous organizations from pharmacies to taxis and restaurants.
The Cathedral’s original design is attributed to Martín Casillas who supervised construction from the outset in 1561. The first round of construction finished in 1618 but the church would not be consecrated for another century until 1716.
Interestingly, the bell towers are not original. Earthquakes in 1818 and 1849 damaged the original belltowers and they were rebuilt in a contrasting neo-gothic style.
The Guadalajara Cathedral is the final resting place of cardinals, bishops, and a young girl called Santa Inocencia who was murdered by her father for converting to Catholicism. If you saw Narcos Mexico, the Archbishop killed at the Guadalajara Airport in 1993, Juan Jesús Posadas Ocampo, is laid to rest in the Guadalajara Cathedral.
The Cathedrals of Mexico are different from parish churches because they are the seat of the bishop governing a region.
The Guadalajara Cathedral is the main church in this region and is a main highlight of travel to Guadalajara.
- Cathedral Address: Av. Antonio Alcalde 10, Zona Centro, Guadalajara, (📍Map)
- Monday – Saturday Mass Schedule: 8:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 6:00 PM
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 6:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM
2. Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento
The Templo Expiatorio is one of the finest examples of Neo-Gothic architecture in Mexico. The church was commissioned by Porfirio Díaz in 1897 but the construction was halted by the Mexican Revolution and later the Cristero Wars.
It took 75 years to finish building this magnificent temple. The project was originally designed by Adamo Boari, an Italian architect who also designed the Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Palacio de Correos in Mexico City.
The mosaics were imported from the Vatican, the stained-glass windows were imported from France, and there is a carillon imported from Germany. It is a fine example of Italian neo-gothic religious architecture.
One of the most interesting facts about the Expiatorio is that the stone used to build it was all hand carved much like the construction techniques used in the middle ages. It is mind-boggling that a guy with a chisel and hammer could create lines so perfect.
- Church Address: Calle López Cotilla 935, Col Americana, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Monday – Saturday Mass Schedule: 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 6:00 PM, 8:00 PM, 9:45 PM
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
3. Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Zapopan
In the Catholic church, a basilica is a special honor given to certain buildings that represent some historical event or a major saint.
Zapopan is home to one of the most important pilgrimages in Mexico dating back to the 17th century. An image of the Virgin of Zapopan is carried from the Guadalajara Cathedral to the Basílica de Zapopan along with millions of the faithful.
The Basílica de Zapopan is a Franciscan sanctuary that was started in 1689. It is located in the heart of historic Downtown Zapopan.
In 1979 Pope John Paul II visited the Basílica de Zapopan and celebrated mass. Today, the plaza out front is named after him.
A trip to Guadalajara isn’t complete without visiting the heart of Zapopan.
- Church Address: Calle Eva Briseño 152, Zapopan (📍Map)
- Monday – Saturday Mass Schedule: 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 8:00 PM
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
4. Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
The Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a colonial-era temple in Downtown Guadalajara built in a neoclassical and churrigueresco architectural style. The first stone of the church was laid in 1777 and inaugurated in 1781.
Bishop Antonio Alcalde y Barriga ordered the construction of the church in the northern part of Guadalajara where few people lived at the time.
The National Institute of Anthropology and History has cataloged the church as a historic monument.
There is some excellent food sold on the street outside the temple. Families of buñuelo vendors have been selling their desert pastries for generations.
- Church Address: Av. Fray Antonio Alcalde 527, Centro, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 6:00 PM a 9:00 PM
5. Parroquia de San José de Analco
The Parrioquia de San José de Analco is the oldest church in Guadalajara and one of the oldest in western Mexico. It dates back to 1543, just one year after the founding of Guadalajara at its current location.
- Church Address: Calle Analco 429, Analco, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Monday – Saturday Mass Schedule: 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 8:00 AM 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
6. Templo de San Francisco de Asís
The Temple of San Francisco de Asís is one of the oldest compounds in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area. Much of the church that we see today was built in the 17th century but construction began in 1580.
Currently, this temple is in need of major repairs. The construction of the metro line 3 tunneled underneath the temple and presented some damage. The entire area was renovated during the metro construction and turned into a pedestrian area.
One of the features of this church is the bell tower which looks very similar to the original bell towers of the Cathedral that fell down in the 19th century.
The Two Temples Plaza is just a few blocks from the Plaza de las 9 Esquinas which is one of the best places to eat birria in Guadalajara. I usually combine a tour of Downtown Guadalajara with breakfast in Plaza de las 9 Esquinas.
- Church Address: Calz. Revolución, Zona Centro, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Monday – Saturday Mass Schedule: 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 7:00 PM
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
7. Templo de Nuestra Señora de Aranzazú
The Temple of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazú was originally one of five chapels of the San Francisco de Asís compound. Today the park around the Temple of Aranzazú and San Francisco is referred to as the two temples (Los Dos Templos).
The temple was built by Friar Pedro Íñigo Vallejo between 1749 and 1752, and financed by the Basauri family.
The gold-coated churrigueresque altarpieces are the finest examples that remain in Guadalajara after the Reform Wars.
I worked with a girl named Aranza who told me that her father named her after this church.
This part of Downtown Guadalajara is home to some of the best cheap hotels in the area including The Hotel Morales, The Hotel Real Maestranza, and the Hotel Santiago de Compostela.
- Church Address: Av. 16 de Septiembre 260, Zona Centro, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Monday – Sunday Mass Schedule: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
8. Templo de Nuestra Señora de la Merced
The Templo de Nuestra Señora de la Merced is located next to the Palacio Municipal and the Plaza Guadalajara, just a stone’s throw from the Cathedral. It was the site of the first school in Guadalajara, Colegio de Santa Catalina de Siena.
The temple was built between 1650 and 1721 in the Baroque style.
There are numerous tours of Downtown Guadalajara that congregate and pass through the Plaza Guadalajara. I recommend taking a tour with an electric carriage rather than with a horse-drawn carriage.
- Church Address: Av. Hidalgo 412, Zona Centro, Guadalajara, (📍Map)
- Monday – Saturday Mass Schedule: 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM, 1:45 PM, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
9. Templo de Nuestra Señora del Carmen
There was a time when the Nuestra Señora del Carmen compound occupied much of western Guadalajara. The church grounds halted the westward expansion of the city for centuries.
The temple dates back to the late 17th century but the exact dates are a mystery. It was built by Friars of the Order of the Barefood Carmelitas of Teresa de Avila.
The Reform War took a great deal of property from the church and paved the way for the development of the Colonia Americana neighborhood.
Today, the former convent is a community center and museum.
- Church Address: Del Carmen 116, Zona Centro, Guadalajara (📍Map)
10. Santuario de San José de Gracia
The Santuario de San José de Gracia is the reconstruction of the Convento de Santo Domingo which was destroyed by cannon fire in the Reform Wars. The original construction dates back to 1610 while the current building was rebuilt between 1880 and 1890.
The church was rebuilt by architect Manuel Gomez Ibarra in the neoclassical style.
- Church Address: Av. Fray Antonio Alcalde 294, Centro, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 6:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
11. Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Tlaquepaque
The beautiful and emblematic minor basilica in the main plaza of Tlaquepaque is a mixture of baroque, neoclassical, and neogothic architecture.
Construction began on the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad in 1741 but did not finish until 1878 because of the lack of resources.
Tlaquepaque is home to some of the best restaurants in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area as well as the best tequila shops in all of Mexico.
- Church Address: Calle Morelos 191, Centro, San Pedro Tlaquepaque (📍Map)
- Monday – Saturday Mass Schedule: 8:30 AM and 6:30 PM
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 6:30 PM, and 20:30 PM
12. Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario
Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, often referred to as the Templo Padre Galván, is an under-the-radar yet spectacular example of neo-gothic architecture in Guadalajara.
The Templo Expiatorio is always the first reference someone makes when talking about neo-gothic architecture in Guadalajara, and rightfully so. It is significantly larger than the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario and in a more touristy neighborhood. That shouldn’t take anything away from this church.
The 56 carved stone sculptures of angels dressed as charros and folkloric dancers are breathtaking. The bell tower is more than 50 meters tall and towers over the neighborhood.
If you are interested in religious architecture, the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario needs to be on your list. It is located in a pocket of Downtown Guadalajara that has some very interesting attractions like the Panteón de Belén and the Parque Morelos.
The Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario was built between 1938 and 1962
- Church Address: Calle Hospital 28, El Retiro, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Monday – Saturday Mass Schedule: 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, and 8:00 PM
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
13. Templo de San Sebastián de Analco
The Templo de San Sebastián de Analco is one of the oldest churches in one of the oldest neighborhoods of Guadalajara. According to Revisiones Guadalajara, a spectacular architecture blog that you need to read, San Sebastián de Analco is the second oldest temple in Guadalajara dating back to 1550.
In the Spanish era, Analco was located on the east side of the San Juan de Dios River which separated the Native settlement from the Spanish settlement. The word “Analco” comes from Náhuatl and means the other side of the river.
The Franciscan order built the Templo de San Sebastián de Analco to convert the Native population to Catholicism.
- Church Address: Calle Cuauhtémoc 287, Analco, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 10:30 AM, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
14. Templo de Santa Rita de Casia
So far, we have looked at a lot of historic churches in Guadalajara. The Templo de Santa Rita de Casia was built between 1953 and 1962 and employs a radically different, post-WWII modernist architectural style. The use of reinforced concrete would become very popular in the mid-20th-century
The church is located in the heart of Chapalita just two blocks from the Glorieta Chapalita.
- Church Address: Av Guadalupe 1668A, Chapalita Oriente, Zapopan (📍Map)
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 7:30 AM, to 1:30 PM, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
15. Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
While I have never actually attended mass at the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, I have spent a lot of time in this neighborhood and treasure this church.
There are a number of Catholic charities located nearby that are affiliated with the church including a thrift shop, Al Anon group, and temporary housing for families in crisis.
If you spend any time at all visiting churches in Mexico you will realize that there is a lot of excellent food being sold on the street outside. The Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is one of my favorites. I still buy tamales, corn, or churros from the vendors outside this church at least once a week.
- Church Address: Av. Tepeyac 550, Chapalita Oriente, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
16. Basílica de San Felipe Neri
The baroque-style church was built between 1752 and 1802. Pope Pío VII named it a minor basilica in 1804.
The exterior facade employs a style of design called Plateresque (in the manner of the silversmith) which was popular between the Gothic and Renaissance periods of the 15th century.
The interior of the temple is a neoclassical style and has 14 oil paintings by Miguel Cabrera, one of the most famous painters in Mexican history.
San Felipe de Neri is considered to be one of the seven most important temples in Downtown Guadalajara.
- Church Address: Calle San Felipe 544, Zona Centro, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Mass Sunday: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 06:00 PM, 07:00 PM
17. Templo San Diego de Alcalá
The Templo de San Diego de Alcalá is a small church in Downtown Guadalajara that dates back to 1702. It was built as an annex to the girls’ school.
The exterior has a neoclassical facade with columns and triangles. The interior is rather austere but the stonework is lovely.
San Diego de Alcalá is a popular wedding venue for local couples. Casa Pedro Loza Hotel is two blocks away and wedding parties parade through the streets from the church to the reception.
- Church Address: Calle Garibaldi 536, Zona Centro, Guadalajara, (📍Map)
- Mass Sunday: 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM
18. Templo de Santa Monica
The Temple of Santa Monica was originally part of a convent for Augustinian nuns that was built between 1720 and 1733. Jesuit priest Feliciano Pimentel is recognized as supervising the construction.
Both doors are decorated with some of the finest examples of baroque design in New Spain. The columns are made of stone carved with images of grape vines and the moldings are covered in iconography.
Personally, this is one of my favorite churches in Guadalajara because the design reminds me of where I grew up in San Diego, California. The difference is that Balboa Park is a replica built in the 20th century and the Templo de Santa Monica was built 200 years earlier.
The Templo de Santa Monica is part of the seven temples that are visited during Semana Santa (The Cathedral, Templo de la Merced, Basílisca de San Felipe Neri, Templo de las Capuchinas, Templo de Jesús María, and the Templo de Santa Teresa de Jesús)
- Church Address: Calle Reforma 409, Zona Centro, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Mass Sunday: 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 6:30 PM
19. Parroquia de San Juan de Dios
The Parroquia de San Juan de Dios dates back to 1726 and was built under the direction of the Hermanos Hospitalarios de San Juan de Dios. This is where the first hospital in Guadalajara was located in the 16th century.
The church is dedicated to the Santa Cruz. The exterior facade is rather simple while the bell tower has some baroque elements and the interior has a neoclassical design.
Located on the Calzada de la Independencia, the area used to be a riverfront property until the San Juan de Dios River was moved to underground storm drains. It is right across the street from the Mercado Libertad Market, more commonly known as Mercado San Juan de Dios. Mariachi Plaza is on the other side of the building.
- Church Address: Calzada de la Independencia Norte 10, San Juan de Dios, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM, 9:00 PM
20. Parroquia de San Juan Bautista
The Parroquia de San Juan Bautista is located in Mexicaltzingo which is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Guadalajara. In 1541, one year before the founding of Guadalajara, Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza brought a large number of allied Mexicas to fight the resident Caxcanes.
When the fighting was over the Mexicas named the area Mexicaltzingo or little houses of the Mexicas.
It is just two blocks away from the ruins of the Puente de Las Damas bridge which connected the Native side of town from the Spanish side.
While the neighborhood has been settled since the 16th century, the Parroquia de San Juan Bautista was not built until 1808. There is a combination of Baroque and Neoclassical in the design.
Only one of the two original bell towers remains.
- Church Address: Calle Mexicaltzingo 1059, Mexicaltzingo, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 7:00 AM ,09:30 AM 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
21. Templo de Santa Maria de Gracia
The Templo de Santa María de Gracia is an old church dating back to 1661. Interestingly, it stands at the location of the original Guadalajara Cathedral.
In 1574 the original Cathedral, a simple building of adobe and straw, caught fire and was destroyed. The timing coincided with the Pope and the King of Spain moving the capital of Nueva Galicia from Compostela to Guadalajara.
- Church Address: Av. Hidalgo 156, Zona Centro, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 9:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
22. Templo de San Agustin
The Templo de San Agustín is one of the oldest churches in Guadalajara dating back to the 16th century. However, the earthquake of 1818 that damages the Cathedral bell towers also damaged San Agustín. The church was built over the course of 100 years between 1574 to1674.
In the mid-19th century, the Reform Laws expropriated the convent which is used by the University of Guadalajara today as the campus for the Art, Architecture, and Design School.
- Church Address: Calle Morelos 202, Zona Centro, Guadalajara, (📍Map)
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 7:30 PM, 8:00 PM
23. Parroquia de San Francisco Javier de las Colinas
San Francisco Javier de las Colinas is a lovely church in a wealthy part of Zapopan and the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area.
It is a popular church for local couples to get married and later baptize their children.
The architecture is notably 20th century and much different from the 16th and 17th-century churches in Guadalajara.
- Church Address: Paseo Loma Ancha 3460, Colinas de San Javier, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Monday – Saturday Mass Schedule: 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:15 PM, 6:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 8:15 PM
25. Parroquia El Calvario
Parroquia El Calvario is one of the most interesting churches in Guadalajara because it was designed by legendary architect Luis Barragán. Barrgán is credited with subdividing the Jardines del Bosque neighborhood after some massive success in Mexico City.
Barragán did not oversee the construction of the Parroquia El Calvario but laid out the dimensions and style of the neighborhood, the park, and the church. You can see his modernist influence in the style which is much different from his earlier eclectic works in Guadalajara.
If you are a Barragán fan, it is worth checking out this church. There is some really good food nearby.
The church is home to some celebrated murals by Alfonso Lara Gallardo.
- Church Address: Calle El Sol 2615, Jardines del Bosque, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM a 1:00 PM, 7:00 PM a 9:00 PM
25. Templo de San Francisco de Sales
The Templo San Francisco de Sales is a part of the Salesiano Community. I have driven by this church a thousand times and always loved the architecture. I would love to find out more about when it was built and what the architectural style is.
- Church Address: Calle López Cotilla 1273, Colonia Americana, Guadalajara (📍Map)
- Monday – Saturday Mass Schedule: 8:15 AM, 12:30 PM, 8:00 PM
- Sunday Mass Schedule: 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, 6:30 PM, 7:30 PM
Churches In Guadalajara Frequently Asked Questions
These are the most common questions that I see asked about the churches in Guadalajara on the internet.
What is the oldest church in Guadalajara?
The oldest church in Guadalajara is the Parroquia de San José de Analco which was built in 1543 just one year after the founding of Guadalajara at its current location.
The three oldest churches in Guadalajara are San José de Analco (1543), San Sebastián de Analco (1550), and the Guadalajara Cathedral (1561).
It is pretty amazing that these places of worship have stood for nearly 500 years.
What is the most popular church in Mexico?
The most popular church in Mexico is the Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe in Mexico City which attracts over 10 million visitors a year.
Final Thoughts On The Churches In Guadalajara
I think this is another one of those articles that is going to be a work in progress. As I am researching the churches that I have pictures of, I am learning about dozens of other churches with cultural and historic significance.
Visiting the churches of Guadalajara is a great way to get to know the community. Over the centuries, you can see where the community has built great houses of worship. Some of these churches have fascinating stories about their construction, destruction, and rebuilding. They are an important part of Mexican history.
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it and this article convinces you to get out there and visit more of Guadalajara.
