It is located in a building listed by the INAH as a historic monument and in one of the most historic areas of downtown Mexico City.
It seeks the revival of an emblematic building that, having witnessed so many historical events and after remaining unused for many years, is ready to transmit the ancient history of this area of the city as well as the current way of living. Making evident the interventions that the building has undergone, as well as the original elements of its colonial style, it is a space to understand and absorb the culture and history of Mexico from its origins and up to our times.
We want to replicate in every guest the sensation we had the first time we entered this building: hidden behind a simple and neglected façade was one of the most impressive architectural treasures of the Historic Center. Vernacular materials and construction techniques, two large domes through which such a special light entered that it almost seemed to “worship” the wrought iron elements in the balustrade or its impressive staircase. Each beam of light strategically placed to highlight the most impressive elements.
We are the light that invites you to discover the secrets of Mexican history and culture.
The space now occupied by the square was originally part of land acquired by Juan Gutiérrez Altamirano in 1527. In 1582, his son Fernando used it for corrals and a ram market, leading to the creation of Plazuela de Jesús. Over time, it was known as Plazuela del Maíz, then Plazuela de la Paja. In 1825, it became a market for street vendors. In 1964, it was renamed in honor of Francisco Primo de Verdad y Ramos.
It was the first institution of its kind created in Mexico, founded under the name of Purísima Concepción in 1523 by Hernán Cortés himself. After a gift received from an indigenous woman known as Petronila Jerónima in 1663, the hospital changed its name to Jesús de Nazareno, as it is known today. The gift was a sculpture representing Jesus of Nazarene with a cross on his back that caused great devotion among the community.
At the intersection of the current streets of Pino Suarez and Rep. del Salvador, the meeting of the Lord of Mexico, Moctezuma Xocoyotzin, and the Hispanic conqueror, Hernan Cortes, took place on November 8, 1519. This event is represented in a talavera mosaic on one side of the Templo de Jesús de Nazareno with a design inspired in the screen made by the novo-Hispanic painter Juan Correa in 1694.
Formerly D. Juan Street and initially known as New Street, it was one of the most important streets after the arrival of the Spaniards. It was home to nobles and prominent people and was the first street to have public lighting in 1783. The neighbors installed a series of streetlights on their own, perhaps to combat the insecurity of those years. Two years later, an order was issued to place uniform lanterns in front of different businesses.