House & History...

The hotel was originally a charming traditional family home, which we purchased from a family who had raised 6 children here and then outgrown it. We are located in "El Peñasco," an historically rich area within the central historical district of the City of Oaxaca - mentioned in a well-known Mexican ballad. Although only 5 blocks from the central square, this is not a commercial area but a friendly neighborhood with a primary school, small market, and a bakery - all within a few blocks. The church of Oaxaca's patron saint La Basilica de la Virgen de La Soledad is also nearby.

Built around the turn-of-the-century in the "Colonial Popular" style, it was restored with care in 1999 by Arq. Roberto Aranda Castillo, then director of historical preservation for the city. Our street is named for his grandfather, who was for decades the principal of the local school. All restoration was done with the approval of the National Institute of Anthropology and History. Excavation in our central patio during construction yielded ceramics, glass and metal artifacts dating back over a hundred, and possibly 200 years - on display in our dining area. In the 1930's the house was adorned with "Gaude-esque" mosaics which have been preserved, including the collection of garden planters which once again appear on the roof, just as they did in the 1932 photo!

Oaxaca, and our corner of it, still has so much of the feel of old Mexico that it was used as the location for a 1978 classic film about Latin American politics. In Under Fire, Gene Hackman was "shot" in front of our building.

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