The building was designed with a unique 'corner tower' that allowed the owner to oversee his business interests from the second floor.
It served as the first headquarters for the Banco Nacional de México (Banamex) starting in 1884.
The facade contains a coat of arms of the original owners, the Valparaíso family, carved into the stone.
The interior patio is famous for its sophisticated use of arches and a vaulted ceiling that supports a wide, open walkway.
In the 19th century, the building was converted into the Hotel Iturbide, hosting prominent international travelers.
The restoration completed in the early 2000s preserved original 18th-century decorative elements while reinforcing the volcanic stone structure against seismic activity.
The Palacio de Iturbide, officially known as the Palacio de los Condes de San Mateo de Valparaíso, is an 18th-century Baroque masterpiece located on the pedestrian-only Madero Street. Commissioned by the Count of San Mateo de Valparaíso, it was completed in 1785 by architect Francisco Guerrero y Torres. The structure served as the residence for Agustín de Iturbide, who was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico here in 1822. The building features an intricate carved stone facade and a grand interior courtyard with a cantilevered staircase. Today, it operates as the Fomento Cultural Banamex, housing high-quality temporary art exhibitions. The palace is protected by the National Institute of Anthropology and History due to its status as a historical monument. Its architecture exhibits the 'tezontle' volcanic rock construction characteristic of colonial Mexico City. It serves as a central hub for promoting Mexican cultural heritage and artisanal craft.
The center of the ground-floor courtyard, which provides a symmetrical view of the arches and the ornate stone work above.
Take time to examine the intricate stone carvings on the main portal, which are among the best-preserved in the city.
Visit the small bookstore inside for high-quality catalogs of past exhibitions and academic texts on Mexican art.
Combine your visit with a walk along Madero Street, which contains several other colonial-era architectural sites.
Do not mistake the lobby area for the main exhibition space, which is typically found in the inner courtyard and surrounding rooms.
Closed on Mondays; often closed during transitions between major art exhibitions.
Maintain a quiet volume; flash photography is generally prohibited inside the gallery spaces.
