Plaza Tapatía is the large pedestrian esplanade that connects the Cathedral precinct with the Hospicio Cabañas, running east from the Teatro Degollado for several blocks. Built in the 1980s, it replaced a dense neighbourhood of old streets with a broad open plaza — a controversial decision at the time that has since become accepted as the city's main ceremonial space.
The plaza is lined with fountains, sculptures, and benches, and is animated at all hours by street performers, vendors, and families. It is not architectural history — it is explicitly modern — but as public space it functions well and gives the centre a sense of civic scale. The bronze sculptures along the length include representations of Guadalajara's founding and early history.