Manzana de la Rivera
Encyclopedia
The Manzana de la Rivera is an antique city block transformed into a museum-library-theater-cafe complex, and has become a cultural symbol of Paraguay
.
Paraguay
, the architectonic complex is a group of nine restored houses as well as some new construction. It is located in front of the Government House. Its name comes from an old nearby street name, the Calle de la Rivera.
The Viola House is a typical colonial construction dated from 1750-1758. Its location relates to the layout of the streets before Doctor Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
squared the city. The house has a tile roof. There is a gallery in front; behind the gallery there is a blacksmith’s shop built over wooden beams and columns. Previously, the house had three big rooms, now there’s only one, located in front . In the back part there is a passing gallery, as a sample of the culata yovai, a type of antique Paraguayan house. The roof of the gallery is made of palm and tacuara; the tiles are set with a mud kind of cement.
Nowadays it houses the Museo Memoria de la Ciudad
, a museum in commemoration of the city, and exhibits texts, maps, objects, paints, graphics, as well as other elements that tell the history of Asunción
, since its foundation until modern times.
Clari House
Located next to the “Viola House”, this house is a simple construction with an interior gallery with rooms next to each other. Built by the architect Clari at the beginnings of the 20th century with a late Art Nouveau style.
The house is now used as the Café Bar Casa Clari. The newly built Miguel Acevedo addition is used as an art gallery
Clari-Mestre House
This building, adjoining with “Casa Clari” was built in 1912 in a neoclassical style. When it was restorated, it had a zinc roof, which was supposedly placed after its initial construction. The ceiling was made of cardboard, with relief and no colors. Due to the bad condition of the ceiling and roof, it was decided to put a tile roof on the house.
Because the house has different levels, it was easy to create an auditorium. The Ruy Diaz de Guzmán auditorium is used for concerts, theater shows, dance shows and book presentations among lots of other activities.
Vertúa House
From all the buildings that make up the Manzana, this was the only one that had the possibilities of having a second floor. It was built in 1998 in a neoclassic style. There used to be a sweetshop with the same name.
Emasa House
At the point of restoration, this building needed the most work. It was first used as a customs office, with a number of big rooms along one side of a hallway. After that, a printing house had been using the building, and it was necessary to remove part of the roof.
Nowadays, the office of the Cultural Centre of the City, the office of the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation (Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional), and the office of the Paraguayan Chamber of the Associated Booksellers (Camara paraguaya de Libreros Asociados) are in there. It also has a space named “La Galeria” (the gallery) that works as an exhibition place, mainly of sculptures and equipment.
Castelví House
Previously known as the “Casa Serra”, the “Castelvi House” is a building from the year 1804, and was still built within the colonial system. The house was built by the Catalonian José Castelvi, who was Asuncion’s vice mayor. It has the original doors, windows, window bars, and one of the floors. It’s a pre-Franciscan house, located 15 mts from the street; it has an external garden that forms part of the urban zone.
Nowadays there are two exhibition rooms: Juan A. Samudio and Domingo Martínez de Irala
. There is also a playroom for the kids.
In the garden of the house is named Patio Arecayá in commemoration of the Arecayá Indian rebellion, and is used for various outside activities.
Serra I and Serra II Houses
Both houses represent the neoclassical style of housing, with rooms located near the street. They have two hallways, which is why it’s supposed that they were two houses that merged into each other.
It now houses the Municipal videotheque which has videos and documentaries on educational and cultural topics, especially designed for students.
In the Patio Leonor, (joining of the internal gardens between “Castelvi” and “serra I and II”) different kinds of shows are carried out.
Ballario
Built in 1901 in a neoclassical style, this was the house that was restored last in June, 1996. The house is site of the offices of the UNESCO
in Paraguay
.
was inaugurated on June 26, 1999, with the visit of the Spanish
president José María Aznar
.
Monday to Friday: from 08.00 to 21.00
Saturday: from 10.00 to 20.00
Sunday: from 10.00 to 19.00
Monday to Friday: form 08.00 to 21.00
Saturday: from10.00 to 20.00
Sunday: from 10.00 to 19.00
Monday to Friday: from 08.00 to 13.30
Saturday: from 10.00 to 20.00
Sunday: from 10.00 to 19.00
Monday to Friday: from 07.00 to 19.00
Saturday: from 08.00 to 12.00
Monday to Friday: from 12.00 to 17.30
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
.
Location
Located at Juan de Ayolas 129, AsunciónAsunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, the architectonic complex is a group of nine restored houses as well as some new construction. It is located in front of the Government House. Its name comes from an old nearby street name, the Calle de la Rivera.
History
After the change of government in 1989, people wanted to restore a few places in town. In this context, a group of architecture students started the campaign Salvemos la Manzana frente al palacio which means et’s save the city block in front of the government house, opposing a project that intended to demolish it to build a park in its place. The restoration works started in 1991. Its first director was the architect Carlos Colombino.Houses of la Manzana
Viola HouseThe Viola House is a typical colonial construction dated from 1750-1758. Its location relates to the layout of the streets before Doctor Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
200px|right|thumb|José Gaspar Rodríguez de FranciaDr. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia y Velasco was the first leader of Paraguay following its independence from Spain...
squared the city. The house has a tile roof. There is a gallery in front; behind the gallery there is a blacksmith’s shop built over wooden beams and columns. Previously, the house had three big rooms, now there’s only one, located in front . In the back part there is a passing gallery, as a sample of the culata yovai, a type of antique Paraguayan house. The roof of the gallery is made of palm and tacuara; the tiles are set with a mud kind of cement.
Nowadays it houses the Museo Memoria de la Ciudad
Museo Memoria de la Ciudad
The Museum of the Memory of the City is located in the Viola House , one of the nine buildings that make up the architectonic complex Manzana de la Rivera, in front the Government house, in Asunción, capital of Paraguay. This Museum was an idea of the architect Carlos Colombino, and was...
, a museum in commemoration of the city, and exhibits texts, maps, objects, paints, graphics, as well as other elements that tell the history of Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, since its foundation until modern times.
Clari House
Located next to the “Viola House”, this house is a simple construction with an interior gallery with rooms next to each other. Built by the architect Clari at the beginnings of the 20th century with a late Art Nouveau style.
The house is now used as the Café Bar Casa Clari. The newly built Miguel Acevedo addition is used as an art gallery
Clari-Mestre House
This building, adjoining with “Casa Clari” was built in 1912 in a neoclassical style. When it was restorated, it had a zinc roof, which was supposedly placed after its initial construction. The ceiling was made of cardboard, with relief and no colors. Due to the bad condition of the ceiling and roof, it was decided to put a tile roof on the house.
Because the house has different levels, it was easy to create an auditorium. The Ruy Diaz de Guzmán auditorium is used for concerts, theater shows, dance shows and book presentations among lots of other activities.
Vertúa House
From all the buildings that make up the Manzana, this was the only one that had the possibilities of having a second floor. It was built in 1998 in a neoclassic style. There used to be a sweetshop with the same name.
Emasa House
At the point of restoration, this building needed the most work. It was first used as a customs office, with a number of big rooms along one side of a hallway. After that, a printing house had been using the building, and it was necessary to remove part of the roof.
Nowadays, the office of the Cultural Centre of the City, the office of the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation (Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional), and the office of the Paraguayan Chamber of the Associated Booksellers (Camara paraguaya de Libreros Asociados) are in there. It also has a space named “La Galeria” (the gallery) that works as an exhibition place, mainly of sculptures and equipment.
Castelví House
Previously known as the “Casa Serra”, the “Castelvi House” is a building from the year 1804, and was still built within the colonial system. The house was built by the Catalonian José Castelvi, who was Asuncion’s vice mayor. It has the original doors, windows, window bars, and one of the floors. It’s a pre-Franciscan house, located 15 mts from the street; it has an external garden that forms part of the urban zone.
Nowadays there are two exhibition rooms: Juan A. Samudio and Domingo Martínez de Irala
Domingo Martínez de Irala
Domingo Martínez de Irala was a Spanish Basque conquistador.He headed for the Americas in 1535 enrolled in the expedition of Pedro de Mendoza and participated in the founding of Buenos Aires...
. There is also a playroom for the kids.
In the garden of the house is named Patio Arecayá in commemoration of the Arecayá Indian rebellion, and is used for various outside activities.
Serra I and Serra II Houses
Both houses represent the neoclassical style of housing, with rooms located near the street. They have two hallways, which is why it’s supposed that they were two houses that merged into each other.
It now houses the Municipal videotheque which has videos and documentaries on educational and cultural topics, especially designed for students.
In the Patio Leonor, (joining of the internal gardens between “Castelvi” and “serra I and II”) different kinds of shows are carried out.
Ballario
Built in 1901 in a neoclassical style, this was the house that was restored last in June, 1996. The house is site of the offices of the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
.
Other facts
In 1993 there were plans to build an experimental theater in the wasteground that was part of the Manzana. A design contest was set up, in which young architects were asked to submit their ideas. The winner was Javier Corvalán. The multi-use lounge Federico García LorcaFederico García Lorca
Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca was a Spanish poet, dramatist and theatre director. García Lorca achieved international recognition as an emblematic member of the Generation of '27. He is believed to be one of thousands who were summarily shot by anti-communist death squads...
was inaugurated on June 26, 1999, with the visit of the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
president José María Aznar
José María Aznar
José María Alfredo Aznar López served as the Prime Minister of Spain from 1996 to 2004. He is on the board of directors of News Corporation.-Early life:...
.
Opening hours
- Museo Memoria de la Ciudad (City Memory Museum)
Monday to Friday: from 08.00 to 21.00
Saturday: from 10.00 to 20.00
Sunday: from 10.00 to 19.00
- Espacio Miguel Acevedo y Galería (Miguel Acevedo space and Gallery)
Monday to Friday: form 08.00 to 21.00
Saturday: from10.00 to 20.00
Sunday: from 10.00 to 19.00
- Casa Castelví
Monday to Friday: from 08.00 to 13.30
Saturday: from 10.00 to 20.00
Sunday: from 10.00 to 19.00
- Biblioteca Municipal (Municipal Library)
Monday to Friday: from 07.00 to 19.00
Saturday: from 08.00 to 12.00
- Videoteca Municipal (municipal Videotheque)
Monday to Friday: from 12.00 to 17.30