Casa Cautiño

Casa Cautiño is a single-story U-shaped residence in Guayama designed by architect Manuel Texidor in 1887 with neoclassical features such as cornices, pilasters, Roman arches, and classical ornamentation. The preserved interior spaces demonstrate how wealthy landowners lived in 19th-century Puerto Rico.

The residence was built in 1887 for Colonel Genaro Cautiño Vázquez, an officer in the Spanish Volunteer Army. During the Spanish-American War, the house served as headquarters for American forces occupying the island.

The house displays artwork and furnishings crafted by local artisans for the Cautiño family, reflecting the tastes and craftsmanship valued by wealthy Puerto Ricans in the 1800s. These pieces show how regional artists contributed to the homes of the island's elite.

The museum is located on Calle Santiago Palmer and displays rooms furnished as they were in the 1800s, offering insight into daily life in a wealthy household. Visitors should allow time to explore the various rooms and their period furnishings.

An underground tunnel connects the main house to an annex building and the Iglesia San Antonio, creating a hidden network of historical structures beneath the street. This concealed passageway was a practical feature that allowed residents to move between spaces while sheltered from weather and outside view.