Casa del Cordón, Santo Domingo facts for kids
The Casa del Cordón (which means "House of the Cord" in Spanish) is a very old building in the Colonial City of Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. It's known as the oldest stone house built by Europeans in the Americas. It might also be the first two-story house built by Europeans here!
Its name comes from a special carved design on its front, which looks like a sash or a cord. This design is connected to the Franciscan Order, a group of religious people. The house is located where Isabel la Católica street meets Emiliano Tejera street.
In 1586, a famous English pirate named Francis Drake attacked Santo Domingo. During his visit, a large scale was set up inside this house. People used it to weigh all the valuable things the city's residents had to give to the pirate.
The building itself is built in a mix of styles. These are called Isabelline Gothic and Mudéjar styles. It is also part of the "Colonial City of Santo Domingo," which is a special place recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
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History of the Casa del Cordón
The Casa del Cordón was built a very long time ago, between 1502 and 1503. It was one of the first buildings in the new city.
One of its first important residents was Francisco de Garay. He was a key person in the early 1500s. He helped in the conquest of Mexico. He was also the governor of Jamaica and worked for Christopher Columbus.
In 1509, Diego Columbus, who was Christopher Columbus's son and the viceroy (a ruler representing the king), lived here briefly. He lived with his wife, María de Toledo, who was a niece of King Ferdinand II of Aragon. They stayed in the Casa del Cordón before moving to their bigger official home, the Alcázar de Colón.
This building was also home to the Real Audiencia of Santo Domingo. This was a very important court of law for the Spanish colonies. Miguel Díaz, who was in charge of the Ozama fortress, also lived here when Santo Domingo was first founded.
Later, the house was owned by Manuel Jimenes Ravelo. He was the son of a former president, Manuel Jimenes González.
Architecture and Design
The Casa del Cordón has two courtyards inside. One of them still has its original brick arches. The way the rooms are set up is similar to palaces from Spain in the late 1400s.
On the front of the house, at the very top, there's a special window sill. It's designed in the Mudéjar style, which blends Christian and Islamic art. You can also see the coat of arms (a special symbol) of Francisco de Garay in the same spot.
Today, the house has been restored. It is rented out to a bank called Banco Popular Dominicano. While you can't explore the whole building, it is protected by the government because of its historical importance.
The Special Sash-and-Cord Design
The carved sash-and-cord design on the house is very unique. You can find similar designs on other old buildings in Spain. For example, there's the Palacio del Cordón in Zamora and another in Burgos. This type of decoration was popular in the late 1400s.
Colorful Tiles (Azulejos)
During restoration work, special colorful tiles called azulejos were found. These tiles were placed on the vertical parts of the stairs. They were discovered during repairs of the city's main cathedral.
See also
- List of colonial buildings in Santo Domingo
- List of oldest buildings in the Americas
Images for kids
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Front of the Casa del Cordón with the Franciscan chiseled sash-and-cord.
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Facade
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The Casa del Cordón (second left) in a photo of 1911.
