Spanish Colonial Crush

Here is a new set of pictures taken during our last visit to Bogotá, Colombia.  I love this house with the charming patio and water fountain in its middle.

Located in La Candelaria, a historic neighborhood in downtown Bogotá, where the architecture of the old houses, churches and buildings has a Spanish colonial and/or Baroque style.

From previous posts you might already know of my big crush with this style!

The terracotta roofs, ornate windows and doors, and in this case how colorful it is.

This particular house is not a simple house any more.  Since 1968 it holds one of the edgiest theaters in Colombia.  Founded by a group of independent artists trying to get in sync with experimental theater and with the cultural movement of the 1960's, they wanted to create an environment accessible to the masses.
Its mix of social and political issues, but also the classical and contemporary productions has earned it a reputation of being one of the best theaters in Colombia and Latin America.

Once inside you'll find the ticket window by the entrance door to the auditorium, which holds 250 seats.

The only thing is that in this particular afternoon, it was closed and I was more interested on the architectural aspects of the building than in the play.

The "patio de ropas" (clothing yard) was where I wanted to be!  That's one of those places where you just keep on thinking of the people who had lived here.  Well, it has held the theater company for more than 40 years, but before that it had to be a house, a family's home, I guess.  I imagined kids playing around the fountain.

Perhaps, running along those corridors.

The ceiling, which looks like made out of "bahareque" (wattle and daub), reminded me so much of the "bahareque" house I grew up in.

I love the simple railings all around it .

The terracotta / cobblestone floor in that pretty design.

The lanterns, plant stands and of course that old chunky bench!

It was one of those places that makes you so happy to be traveling back in time, and I sure did!