Palacio de los Condes de San Mateo de Valparaiso

The Palacio de los Condes de San Mateo de Valparaiso is a colonial building in Mexico City's historic center with walls of chiluca stone and red tezontle rock, decorated with glazed tiles from Puebla. Its interior rooms feature artwork and carved details that display the craftsmanship typical of the 1700s.

The building was constructed between 1769 and 1772 under architect Francisco Antonio Guerrero y Torres and served as a residential palace for a wealthy colonial family. Later, Mexico's National Bank took over the building in the 1800s and operated there for more than a century.

The palace displays casta paintings that show how colonial society classified people by their mixed heritage and social standing. These artworks reveal the strict divisions that organized daily life under Spanish rule.

The palace is located at the intersection of Isabel la Catolica and Venustiano Carranza streets in the historic center and is easy to reach on foot. Today it functions as Forum Valparaiso, hosting exhibitions and events that allow visitors to walk through and explore the various rooms.

The building served as headquarters for Mexico's National Bank from 1884 until 2010, when it underwent major renovation. This century-long period as a banking center shaped the interior layout and details that visitors can still see today.