Casa Serrallés facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Casa Serrallés |
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Casa Serrallés, today home to the Museo de la Música Puertorriqueña
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Location | Calle Salud and Calle Isabel (southeast corner), Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Coordinates | 18°00′45″N 66°36′39″W / 18.01262°N 66.61082°W |
| Construction started | 1911 |
| Completed | 1912 |
| Client | Juan Eugenio Serralles |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Alfredo Wiechers Pieretti |
| Engineer | Alfredo Wiechers Pieretti |
The Casa Serrallés (which means Serrallés Residence in Spanish) is a really old and important building in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It was built in 1911 by a famous architect named Alfredo Wiechers Pieretti. The house was made for Don Juan Eugenio Serrallés Pérez. He was the son of Juan Serrallés Colón, who started the company Destilería Serrallés. Juan Eugenio himself was in charge of the company that makes Ron Don Q. Today, this beautiful building is home to the Museo de la Música Puertorriqueña, a museum about Puerto Rican music.
Contents
A Look Back: History of Casa Serrallés
This special house was built in 1911. It was designed by Alfredo Wiechers. The house was a gift for Juan Eugenio Serrallés Pérez and his wife, Rosa María Sánchez. They were a very important family in Ponce.
Where is Casa Serrallés Located?
The Casa Serrallés is found in the Ponce Historic Zone. It sits on the corner of Calle Isabel and Calle Salud. Its location, along with its history and cool design, makes it stand out. It's truly unique among homes in Puerto Rico.
The house is also very close to another Serrallés family home. This other house is called Casa Rosita Serrallés. However, the Casa Rosita Serrallés is much smaller.
Why is Casa Serrallés Important?
Casa Serrallés was the fancy home of Don Eugenio Serrallés. He was a big leader in the sugar cane business. This was during the early 1900s. The building is important for three main reasons: its architecture, its history, and its culture.
Architectural Style of the House
From an architecture point of view, Casa Serrallés is a great example. It shows the Neoclassical style. This was a popular design for rich families back in the early 20th century. It looks grand and classic.
A Glimpse into History
Historically, the building reminds us of big changes. These changes happened in southern Puerto Rico in the 1920s. Ponce relied a lot on the sugar cane industry. This brought a lot of money to many families. These wealthy families often looked to Europe for ideas. They wanted their homes and culture to be like European ones.
Cultural Significance of the Serrallés Home
Culturally, the building is very important. It was the main home in the city for one of the richest families in 19th-century Puerto Rico. This family had a huge impact on the island's economy. The Serrallés family also had another home. It was a big castle on a hill called Castillo Serralles. That castle is now a historic site too.
What Does Casa Serrallés Look Like?
The house has one main floor. You enter the house from Isabel Street. Since it's on a corner, it's a very long building. It was built in 1911 and finished in 1912. The architect was Alfredo Wiechers Pieretti.
Inside, the house has many beautiful details. There are colorful stained-glass windows. The floor tiles are hand-painted. The window shutters, called mahogany louvres, are carved from wood. The ceilings are very tall, about 12 feet high! The city bought the house in 1992. It had been empty for a long time before that.
The property also has a large open area outside. This is called a courtyard. In the back, there's a big private yard. It even has a special bar area for Don Q drinks. This is where guests were probably entertained in the past.
Casa Serrallés Today: A Music Museum
In 1996, the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture fixed up the building. They made it look like its old self again. Now, it's a museum that shows off the music of Puerto Rico. It's called the Museo de la Música Puertorriqueña.
Inside the museum, you can see different rooms. They display Puerto Rican musical instruments. There are also many items that remind us of the past. One room has a huge painting by Miguel Pou. It's called "Los Músicos de Ponce." This painting shows the greatest musicians from Ponce up to that time.
See also
- Destilería Serrallés
- Don Q
- Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Juan Serrallés
