Palace of the Count of Buenavista, Neoclassical palace in Tabacalera, Mexico City, Mexico.
The Palace of the Count of Buenavista is a two-storey neoclassical building on Puente de Alvarado Street in the Tabacalera neighborhood. Its main facade of grey cantera stone is set back from the street and topped by a stone balustrade. Inside, the oval courtyard and the staircase are the most notable features. The design is attributed to the Valencian architect Manuel Tolsá.
Architect Manuel Tolsá designed the building between the late 18th and early 19th century as a residence for the Count of Buenavista. The commissioned owner never lived in the completed structure.
The building has housed the National Museum of San Carlos since 1968. Its name comes from the Count of Buenavista, for whom the Marquise of Selva Nevada, María Josefa de Pinillos, had it built as a gift for her son, though he died before living in it. The Tabacalera neighborhood takes its name from the Mexican Tobacco Company, which later used the palace as its headquarters.
The building houses a museum with opening hours on several days of the week and is located in central Mexico City. Visitors should allow adequate time to explore the art collections and architectural features.
The palace's garden, with its historic benches and fountain, was ceded to the central department in 1935 by Dolores Yturbe de Béistegui, covering 2,500 square metres. The building later passed to Agustín Schultzemberg, and after his intestate death in 1953 it was awarded to public charity following a lawsuit.
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