Cathedral of Our Lady of Solitude

Cathedral of Our Lady of Solitude (Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Soledad) stands at the n. end of Plaza Juan Alvarez, the Zócalo. The cathedral's appearance—complete with an onion-shaped blue dome and Byzantine towers—is a bit misleading; it was constructed in 1930 from parts of an uncompleted movie theater. The simple interior features a yellow-tiled floor, blue and white walls, religious statues and an image of the Virgin of Solitude, patron saint of Acapulco. This is a fully functioning church, and visitors should be respectful of worshippers.

Palm trees tower above the plaza, a local meeting place where vendors peddle their wares and people stop and socialize or read the newspaper over a cup of coffee. Band concerts take place on Sundays. Streets in the adjacent neighborhoods are lined with architecturally interesting houses, making them conducive to a pleasant early evening stroll.