Casa de los Azulejos
Blue and white Talavera tiles from Puebla cover three sides of the palace’s Baroque façade, turning the building into a vivid mosaic that dominates its street view. Known as Casa de los Azulejos and also as the Palacio de los Condes del Valle de Orizaba, the structure stands in the historic centre of Mexico City, Mexico.
Construction of the palace began in the 16th century under the Counts of the Valle de Orizaba. Their descendants finished the exterior decoration in 1737, applying the distinctive azulejos that still adorn the walls. The building’s stonework and ornamental details reflect the Baroque style that was popular in the colonial era, while the tiled surfaces give it a unique visual identity that separates it from surrounding architecture.
The palace remained in private ownership until the late 19th century, passing through several hands before the Sanborns brothers acquired it. They transformed the site into a flagship restaurant for their soda‑fountain and drugstore chain, preserving the historic façade while adapting the interior for dining. Visitors today walk past the tiled exterior, enter the restaurant, and experience a blend of colonial heritage and contemporary Mexican hospitality. The enduring presence of the 1737 Talavera tiles on three façades remains the most striking reminder of the building’s centuries‑old story.
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