Casa Paoli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Casa Paoli
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Main facade, in July 2009
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 Location in Puerto Rico
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| Location | 14 Mayor Street (now, 2648 Mayor St.), Ponce, Puerto Rico |
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| Area | <1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | c. 1864 |
| Architect | Manuel V. Domenech (1914 intervention) |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000769 |
| Added to NRHP | 1 October 2009 |
| Established | 1987 |
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| Location | Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Type | Biographical museum |
| Owner | Private: Centro de Investigaciones Folklóricas de Puerto Rico, Inc. |
Casa Paoli, also known as the Paoli House, is a special historic home in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is now a biographical museum located in the Ponce Historic Zone. This house is famous because it was the birthplace of Antonio Paoli (1871–1946). Antonio Paoli was a very talented tenor, a type of singer. He was the first Puerto Rican to become famous around the world for his singing. Many people consider him one of the best opera singers ever!
Antonio Paoli grew up in this house. It was here that he first learned about art and opera. In 1987, the house was turned into a museum. This museum celebrates Antonio Paoli's amazing life and career. In 2009, the building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historical site.
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History of Casa Paoli
The Casa Paoli was a wedding gift for Antonio Paoli's parents. They got married at the Ponce Cathedral. Antonio was their seventh child, and he was born in this house. Two of his brothers and sisters were also born there.
This house is important because it was the childhood home of one of the greatest opera singers. It was where Paoli spent his early years. The house is only a few blocks from Teatro La Perla, a major theater in Ponce. This made it easy for Paoli to attend performances. Antonio Paoli was known for his strong and beautiful voice. People called him the "King of the Tenors." He also sang for many kings around the world, earning him the nickname "Tenor of the Kings."
About the House's Design
The front of Casa Paoli is very eye-catching. It has peach and white brick and a stucco front porch. There is a main arched balcony with a female face carved into it. A smaller arched entrance leads into the porch and the house. Beautiful ironwork from the early 1900s separates the porch from the sidewalk.
The front doors are made of wood with louvers. This style was popular in the mid-to-late 1800s. A round hole in the front wall has decorative molding. Another smaller round opening is above the archway into the porch. Inside, the house has nine rooms. There is a long, sunny hallway with many wooden shutters. A cobblestone foyer outside leads to the backyard.
The house's style is called Neoclassical. It also has some features from the 20th century. The house was first built from wood before 1864. That year, Antonio Paoli's father, Domingo Paoli, bought it. By 1870, it was improved to include wood and brick. In 1914, a famous local architect, Manuel V. Domenech, updated it. He made it into the brick and stucco building we see today.
Antonio Paoli: The Tenor of Kings
Antonio Paoli was born in this house on April 14, 1871. When he was young, he often went with his parents to opera shows. These shows were at the Teatro La Perla, about six blocks from his home. One performance by an Italian tenor named Pietro Baccei really inspired him. It made him decide he wanted to be an opera singer.
His parents supported his dream. They enrolled him in a voice training school. Sadly, when Antonio was just 12 years old, his parents passed away. Antonio then moved to Spain to live with his sister, Amalia. Amalia was also a singer, and she encouraged her younger brother to follow his dream.
Antonio studied at the Royal Monastery of El Escorial in Madrid, Spain. He also trained at the Academia de Canto La Scala in Milan, Italy. After his studies, Paoli performed for the first time in Paris. He earned many awards and honors all over the world. People lovingly called him "The King of Tenors" and "The Tenor of the Kings."
He came back to Puerto Rico in 1917. Antonio and Amalia opened a voice training school in San Juan. They also helped with theater shows at San Juan's Municipal Theater. In 1934, the San Juan Municipal Theater was renamed The Antonio Paoli Theater to honor him.
Paoli passed away on August 24, 1946. He was buried in the Puerto Rico Memorial Cemetery. On April 13, 2005, his remains were moved to Ponce's Roman Baldorioty de Castro National Pantheon. Antonio Paoli is remembered as the first Puerto Rican to become famous worldwide in music. The museum at Casa Paoli helps visitors learn about his amazing life and achievements.
Museum and Research Center
Today, Casa Paoli is a museum and a research center. It focuses on Puerto Rican culture. The building is the main office for the Centro de Investigaciones Folkloricas de Puerto Rico. This group is also known as the Puerto Rico Center for Folkloric Research. Their goal is to promote Puerto Rico's cultural traditions and popular arts.
The Center bought the house in 1987. They wanted to save the history of this famous singer and his family. Before moving to Casa Paoli, the Center was located on Calle Marina street.
The museum has three rooms where things are shown. You can see photographs, old postcards, and other items from Antonio Paoli's life. The museum also has a shop. It sells colorful papier-mâché masks. These masks are used in Ponce's yearly Carnival celebrations. The museum shows documents and items from Paoli's life. It also displays examples of Puerto Rican art and tells the history of Ponce.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Paoli para niños
