Known locally as the Tiled House for its blue-and-white Puebla-style azulejo facade, this early 20th-century mansion in the Zona Luz houses exhibits on Tabasco's colonial and Porfirian-era social history, including period furniture, photographs and documents.
The Casa de los Azulejos takes its name from the blue-and-white glazed tiles imported in Puebla style that cover its exterior facade, a decorative treatment unusual for Villahermosa and one that has made the building a recognizable landmark in the Zona Luz since its construction in the early 20th century for a prominent local family. Converted into the Museo de Historia de Tabasco, the building's rooms are arranged to reflect the domestic life of a wealthy Tabasco household during the late colonial and Porfirian periods, displaying period furniture, clothing, photographs and household objects alongside documents tracing the administrative history of the state from the colonial era through the early 20th century. Because the collection focuses on social and domestic history rather than archaeology, it complements rather than duplicates the pre-Hispanic material held at the nearby Museo Regional de Antropologia, giving visitors a fuller picture of Tabasco across different historical periods within a short walk in the Zona Luz.
Why it matters
The Casa de los Azulejos preserves a rare example of Puebla-style tiled architecture in Villahermosa and documents the domestic history missing from the state's archaeology-focused museums.
Location
Calle Juarez esquina 27 de Febrero, Zona Luz, Centro, 86000 Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
17.9891, -92.9265 View on map
Highlights
- Distinctive blue-and-white azulejo tiled facade
- Period furniture and household objects from a Porfirian-era Tabasco family
- Documents tracing Tabasco's administrative history
- Central Zona Luz location near the Plaza de Armas
Tips for visiting
- Visit alongside the Museo Regional de Antropologia for both social and archaeological perspectives on Tabasco
- Photograph the tiled facade from across Calle Juarez for the best angle
- Allow 30-45 minutes for the compact collection
- Go in the late morning when the Zona Luz streets are liveliest
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called the Casa de los Azulejos?
The name comes from the blue-and-white glazed tiles covering the building's facade, a decorative style associated with Puebla.
What period does the museum cover?
It focuses on Tabasco's late colonial and Porfirian-era social history rather than pre-Hispanic archaeology.
How long does a visit take?
About 30 to 45 minutes for the museum's compact rooms.