<P> The heart of Zihuatanejo is the waterfront walkway Paseo del Pescador (Fisherman's Path), also called the malecón . This tree - lined pedestrian walkway goes along the municipal beach between the archeological museum and the fishing pier . It is lined with restaurants offering seafood and many other dishes, as well as a variety of stores selling rugs, arts and crafts and souvenirs, and a small shell market . In the evening, this area fills with people socializing . </P> <P> Instead of a traditional plaza, the center is a basketball court which is in front of the beach and serves as a point of reference . It is surrounded by benches and shade trees . Next to this are the gazebo and the Casa de la Cultura . These venues host music, concerts, cultural presentations, art shows . The main thoroughfare for cars is Juan Alvarez, a block behind the malecón . Sections of several of the main streets are designated pedestrian zones . The main church of the town, the Parish of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, is located nearby . </P> <P> Zihuatanejo's oldest building was part of the Ingrana family hacienda, which was a coconut plantation . Today, the building houses "Restaurant Coconuts", but was the storage facility for the plantation when it was built about 150 years ago . The plantation remained in the family until the Mexican Revolution, when this particular building was confiscated and turned into a field hospital and the rest of the plantation was divided into smaller units . The current restaurant opened in 1979 after restoring this building . Much of the timber in the bar area is original . The gallery of Restaurant Coconuts has a collection of Works done by Guerrero native Nicolás de Jesús . </P> <P> The Mercado de Artesanías (Crafts Market) has 250 shops, which sell a wide variety of crafts . These include those local work done with seashells, coral and snailshells . The market also has silver from Taxco and lacquered objects from Olinalá, Guerrero, and ceramics and bark paper paintings from the central valleys region of Oaxaca . The town center has its own beach, called the "municipal beach", but it is not recommended for swimming . Due to its proximity to the port, there is constant maritime traffic in this part of the bay . </P>

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