Have fun in the theaters of la Roma
26 November, 2023
National Auditorium
26 November, 2023To talk about history and be within reach of it, it is enough to visit some corner of Mexico City, which has sites and enclosures that testify to the life that existed in different times, just as the historical buildings of the Roma neighborhood do.
The capital of the country has changed drastically over the years, from having pre-Hispanic buildings, some of which are still preserved, to the creation of European-style buildings that can be seen, above all, in colonies such as Rome.
This neighborhood, one of the most vibrant in the capital, began to trace its history in 1903, when the land of the Potreros de Romita was occupied to build houses and delimit streets.
During the time of the Porfiriato this area began to take shape, but it was the time of the Colony and the Carrancistas who contributed to its growth being much greater.
Since then, representative buildings from different eras began to be built, some of which are still standing giving life and beautifying one of the most famous colonies of the capital, Rome.
Balmori Building
Built in 1922, the Balmori building is one of the most representative of the Roma neighborhood, as its French style caught the attention of pedestrians who passed by it.
Some businesses were established in this building, but its main occupation was housing. Furthermore, so that the people of that time would have leisure options, a movie theater was adapted in this construction, which was no longer used and that space is currently a parking lot.
Everything was going well for the Balmori, until in 1990 some artists took over the building's facilities with the sole purpose of saving it, as it was going to be demolished to build shops.
For this reason, they improvised an art gallery as a defense exhibition and their effort paid off, because this historic building still stands and even has been declared an Architectural Heritage by the National Institute of Fine Arts.
Location
Orizaba Street #102, corner with Álvaro Obregón Avenue.
The witches house
The historical buildings of the Roma neighborhood are also surrounded by legends, as is the case of a building known as “the witches' house”, which was built in 1908 by engineer R.A Pigeon, who probably did not imagine that his work would inspire prominent Mexican writers.
This Gothic-style construction stands out for its elongated windows, the brick color of its façade and a tower that has a tip shaped like a pointed hat, something that the children of the schools that surround the building associated with the hats worn by witches. and that is why he began to be called as he is currently known.
One of the most famous stories about this place is that of “Pachita”, a woman who lived in the service rooms of the building and who, according to urban stories, was a shaman who practiced healing in that place, a situation that increased the legends about this property.
The fame of “the witches' house” grew so much that several writers even took it as inspiration, such as José Emilio Pacheco, who wrote the novel “Morirás Lejos”, whose main plot takes place in this building.
Sergio Pitol and Carlos Fuentes are other authors who were inspired by this peculiar place to write “The Parade of Love” and “The Head of the Hydra”, respectively.
Location
This famous building is located exactly on the corner of Rio de Janeiro and Durango streets.
Holy Family Parish
If there are certain types of buildings that abound in the country's capital, they are, without a doubt, churches. Such is the case of the Sagrada Familia Parish, which is located in the Roma neighborhood, a symbol of this area due to its imposing architecture.
This temple, the first of its kind in the colony, began to be built in 1910 and it was not until 1925 when the work was completed, resulting in a neo-Gothic style parish that little by little became a reference in Rome. .
The architects Manuel Gorozpe and Miguel Rebolledo were in charge of creating a site that, from its first years of operation, attracted the attention of tourists for the polychrome stained glass windows that give its essence to this building.
The cultural activity that distinguishes the Roma neighborhood would not be complete without its churches and parishes, which, along with other types of buildings, bring together every weekend not only local inhabitants, but also tourists who want to soak up a little of the customs. from an always famous neighborhood.
Location
Puebla Street #144, corner with Orizaba.
Without a doubt, knowing part of the history of a city can be possible thanks to its buildings, which not only bear witness to the passage of time and the customs of different eras, but also hide legends that reflect the culture of each country.
For example, the historic buildings of the Roma neighborhood have even been saved by artists, and even suspense novels have been written thanks to them, making them a must-visit place for tourists.
In addition to “the witches' house”, the Sagrada Familia parish and the Balmori building, other properties worth visiting are the El Parián commercial passage, the replica of the Cibeles Fountain (Madrid), the Lamm House , the UNAM Book House, the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Renacimiento Institute.
If you want to see and take photographs of these properties, you can stay at Stanza, a hotel that is located precisely in the Roma neighborhood, which allows you to be close to all the artistic, cultural and gastronomic manifestations that characterize this area of the capital.
Álvaro Obregón Avenue is where this hotel is located, so after touring the neighborhood and learning about its history, you can return to the restaurant of this place to taste a proposal of Mexican food with touches of the Mediterranean, something that will undoubtedly close with a bang. your walk through the streets of Rome is golden.
*And exactly on this avenue, in Álvaro Obregón, are some of the best lodging options in CDMX, such as the Hotel Stanza, in the heart of the Roma neighborhood, which has its own restaurant with a terrace and achieves an incredible mix between comfort and practicality.