Quinta Colorada

The Quinta Colorada is a historic building used for a cultural center in the first section of Chapultepec Park. The old forester’s house sprang up on the site of an earlier stables that dated from the 16th century. That too had been called the Quinta Colorada. Builders during the Porfiriato, though, adapted the home to an exceptional French Neoclassical style.

Perhaps most exciting is that the home was built on a somewhat unusual Greek cross plan. With two levels, there are plenty of spaces for the cultural center activities to unfold. But for many years it really was the house of the main caretaker of the entire property. Later it became the Miguel Hidalgo Cultural Center. In 1972, an outdoor auditorium added capacity for theater presentations and concerts to the center.

Only in 1985, the park took the initiative to construct the annex and to change the name back to the Quinta Colorada that’s still in use today. The annex houses a small auditorium where talks and performances frequently take the stage. But the center also includes a multipurpose room, an extensive patio, and a library.

The entire property stands within the Chapultepec Forest “Place of Natural Beauty,” as it is was declared in 1932. In 2001, this was recognized by UNESCO on the Indicative List of World Heritage sites.

Today the Quinta Colorada hosts numerous free and public workshops. These are often focused on art, literature, and music. More recently, events have also focused on environmental awareness and science. The historic home could not find a more beautiful and tranquil setting to host such events.

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.