Casa de las Academias, Art Nouveau building in San Salvador, El Salvador
Casa de las Academias is an Art Nouveau building in San Salvador that displays French architectural features throughout its structure. Intricate woodwork, iron fixtures, and decorative glass create a refined interior that reflects early 20th-century design from across the Atlantic.
The building was constructed between 1919 and 1920 as a private residence before its purpose changed. From 1930 to 1957, it served as the home of diplomatic missions from two different nations.
The building houses two language academies that preserve and study Salvadoran speech and history through their collections. Scholars and visitors come to access the specialized library within, which focuses on historical documents and regional knowledge.
The building is located in central San Salvador and accessible by public transportation. Visitors should check in advance whether tours or public access are available, as it remains an active institutional building.
The building welcomed high-ranking international visitors during its decades as a diplomatic post, including several major political figures and well-known personalities. This quiet chapter in its history connected it to Cold War-era diplomacy and cultural exchanges.
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