Casa del Poeta Ramon López Velarde

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Considered one of the most endearing literary spaces in the capital, the Museo Casa del Poeta Ramón López Velarde honors the memory of the renowned Zacatecan writer. The venue stands out as a cultural space located in the heart of the Roma Norte neighborhood, masterfully combining historical preservation with the constant promotion of contemporary literature.

The building’s history holds a deep biographical and intimate significance. The poet reunited with his family at this residence in 1914 and inhabited the place until his premature death from pneumonia in 1921, right at the peak of his literary fame. Government institutions acquired the property decades later to restore it, and the foundation was officially created in 1991. The foundational project dreamed of creating a true refuge for creators, keeping alive the essence of the author of La suave patria.

The building’s architecture constitutes a magnificent example of the eclectic style of the early twentieth century, declared a historical monument by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). The rescue efforts respected every detail of the classic facades of the time, adapting the interior through a bold museographic design. The rooms currently function as a dreamlike journey, using visual scenographies to represent the loves, the deep religiosity, and the melancholic vision of the poet.

The main halls guard precise recreations of the room where the writer died, vintage photographs, manuscripts, and various personal objects. The complex simultaneously houses the Efraín Huerta and Salvador Novo libraries, enriching the collection with thousands of volumes specializing in universal poetry and narrative.

The venue maintains a vibrant educational and community vocation. The facilities constantly open their doors to host book presentations, specialized seminars, visual art exhibitions, and public readings. The public has access to guided tours that explore every corner of the museum, forming an absolutely indispensable literary seedbed for Mexico City.

The Poet Ramón Modesto López Velarde Berumen was born in Zacatecas in 1888. He died in Mexico City in 1921, at the peak of his fame. In his time, he was considered “the national poet of Mexico.”

His work is deeply linked to the Mexican Revolution. An early supporter of Francisco A. Madero, López Velarde’s 1919 book, Zozobra, is often considered by critics to be his best work. José Vasconcelos Calderón took up his work upon the poet’s death in 1921. The literary group Los Contemporáneos then saw in López Velarde the beginning of modern Mexican poetry. Their continuous reference to his poetry promulgated his legacy.

A comprehensive study of his figure was conducted by the American Allen W. Phillips in 1961. This later influenced an enlightening study by Octavio Paz, included in his book Cuadrivio (1963). The 1989 biography, Un corazón adicto: la vida de Ramón López Velarde, by writer Guillermo Sheridan, is probably the most complete biography of this author to date.

It is said that López Velarde’s work marks the transition between modernism and the avant-garde.

Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00 hours. Saturdays from 10:00 to 15:00 hours.

Transportation: Insurgentes (Line 1) and Niños Héroes (Line 3) Metro Stations, or Álvaro Obregón Metrobús (Line 1).