Sights to See: Tlaquepaque, Guadalajara, Mexico

TLAQUEPAQUE  7 miles/20-minute cab ride SE of downtown Guadalajara. Pronounced “tla-key-pah-key,” this town’s name is an Indian word meaning “over the hills of clay.” It is famous for its pottery and blown glass--handcrafts that have been passed down through generations of residents—but a wide range of handcrafts is displayed in the many galleries. Beautiful old mansions on the main shopping street (closed to traffic) have been transformed into attractive shops, galleries, and restaurants. The main square, Jardin Hidalgo, is filled with flowers and mature trees and surrounded by churches, bars, and a market. Designers and decorators come here from all over the world in search of blown glass, ceramics, furniture, paintings, fabrics, and antiques.

image c2011 Greg Vaughn