We spent almost a month exploring and enjoying the historical center of Mazatlan on the Pacific coast. This part of town features colorful buildings, many of which display French and Spanish architectural influences. 

Plaza Machado, the oldest plaza in Mazatlan, was once called Paseo de las Naranjas because of the many orange trees that surround the space. After construction in 1837, the plaza quickly became a gathering place for all social classes in the community, and performers used the central iron gazebo as a platform. 

The La Bella Lola Beltran statue honors the “Queen of Mexican music.” Born in 1932, Lola became famous as a Mexican film actress and singer of ranchera music. The songs  originated in rural Mexico with themes of love, nature, and patriotism.

The beautiful exterior and interior of the Basilica de la Inmaculada Concepcion was completed in 1899, about 45 years after construction began. We specifically looked for a very unique feature in the Catholic church: the Star of David displayed in 28 stained glass windows, added to show thanks to a Jewish family from Mazatlan that helped fund the construction. The donors wished to remain anonymous. 

We hiked up a hill to get a close look at El Faro, one of the highest operating lighthouses in the world and situated at over 150 meters above sea level. It first began operation in 1879 and is still in use today. We had a magnificent view of Mazatlan from the base of the lighthouse. 

Almost daily we walked a portion of the Malecon, an 8.5 kilometer sea wall promenade that is the longest in Mexico and one of the longest in the world. Even though we did not traverse the entire length of the Malecon, we did enjoy seeing the many fishing boats parked on the sand in the afternoons and families spending time together on the walkway

Some of the water-themed monuments along the promenade

Malecon monuments honoring important Mexican musicians