Casa de los Azulejos - House of Tiles, Mexico City

The House of Blue Tiles is situated right next to Palacio Bellas Artes, on the road leading to zocalo. This is a colonial mansion that was built in 1596, and it is covered with beautiful blue and white tiles.

Some people told us that a very rich spanish woman moved here and had the house built, and that all of the tiles were brought from Spain or Marocco. But I have also read that the tiles are from Puebla, Mexico. Anyway it is a very beautiful building... :) Today it houses the Sanborns restaurant.

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Along Calle Madero near Bellas Artes and the Latin American Tower, you'll find the House of the Azulejos, a beautifully tiled building that is now a branch of the chain of restaurants called Sanborn's and has a few shops inside. The building was tiled in 1737 using tiles from the town of Puebla.

This beautiful blue and white house, also named the House of Tiles, is built in the 16 century, and it was the palace of the Counts of Orizaba.
In 1737 it was restored in the Puebla-style. Now it is a shop and a restaurant of the Sanborn-chain.

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Located in Centro Histórico between Zócalo and Bellas Artes, this 16th century mansion is a magnificent example of early Mexican architecture. The entire façade is a beautiful blend of blue tiles (Azulejos) and carved stonework. A restaurant/cafe and bookshop occupy the interior. Definitely worth stopping in for coffee if at least to admire the beautiful interior.

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Built in the 16th Century, this mansion has an interesting history:
-In 1737 the Count and Countess of Orizaba ordered the renovation of their home and the placement of the tiles.
-From 1881 it functioned as a private men's club, the famous Jockey club" in the second floor.
-In 1917 it was converted into a drug store and soda fountain which eventually evolved into Sanborn's, a chain of restaurants and department stores, which is what it is today.
-The interior was decorated with a mural (in the interior patio, restaurant area 1st floor) painted by Jean Palcologue)
- In 1921 Jose Clemente Oroszco painted the mural "omniscencia" at the rest of the stairs.

This ancient XVI century house in downtown. Is ocuppied now by a famous restaurant. It is famous because it facade is completely covered with blue tiles. There are two legends explaining this decoration, the first one says that the father of the guy living in it told to his son that he would never have a house of tiles, meaning that he would never do anything important in his life, of course he proved him wrong. The other one says that the tiles were brought from Puebla by a grandniece of the couple that first lived on it, she had lived many years in Puebla, and after returning to Mexico City she decided to bring them to remember that city.
The fact that is accepted is that the tiles are dated from the XVIII century, when the fifth generation of the Vivero family inhabited the house.

The house was built by Diego Suarez in a land he gave as a dowry when his daugther, Graciana Suarez married Rodrigo Vivero, count of Orizaba valley.
between the end of XIX century and the beinning of XX the building was seat of the Jockey Club, a lady clothing store, and as a workers organization. After all this the house was severely damaged and the Sanborns brothers, from the U.S. decided to restore it.
They also hired two muralist to decorate the walls of the house, the rumanian Pacologue painted "the peacock`s mural" and José Clemente Orozco painted "omniscience".
in 2002 Carlos Zarebska writed a book about the story of the house wich you may find at any Sanborns.
Unfortunately all the products and shelfs make it hard to fully appreciate the architecture of the place.

(to know about the food see my restaurant tips page)

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This house, located at the historic centre, is covered in azulejos (tiles) that some people believe are from the state of Puebla, which are called talavera. but other's say are from china. The true origin of the tiles is unkwon, but the house is a beautiful piece of art and history.

- The building is today a Sanborns restaurant and store (a famous and good restaurant), being a customer is not required to enter the building.

Photos:
1- Is the Exterior of the house of tiles "La Casa de los Azulejos"
2- View from balcony of House of Tiles at the second floor, you can see the monument of Independence.
3- View of the Interior patio of house of tiles, is the restaurant area.
4- other view from the Balcony
5- me and my son in the balcony of the second floor.

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This house of tiles was built in 1596 for the Count of Orizaba. The tiles in a Spanish Moorish design were imported from China

one of the oldest buildings (1596),covered with white and blue azulejos,made in puebla;
inside,a cultural shop