Casa Guipuzcoana, Colonial trading house in La Guaira, Venezuela.
Casa Guipuzcoana is a three-story trading house in La Guaira with a central courtyard surrounded by eight columns and a symmetrical facade featuring three projecting balconies. The structure combines warehouse spaces on the ground floor with administrative and residential areas on the upper levels.
The building was constructed in 1734 as headquarters for the Real Compañía Guipuzcoana, a company that controlled trade operations between Venezuela and Spain. The company concentrated its merchant activities at this location for more than a century before commercial operations shifted.
The building displays Spanish residential architecture from colonial times through its stone facades and carved wooden staircases, reflecting how wealthy merchants lived and worked. These crafted elements remain visible today and speak to the everyday life of those who occupied the space.
The building is located on Avenida Soublette near Plaza Bolívar and is easily reached from the city center. Today it operates as the Governor's Office and a museum, so visitors should check opening hours and be prepared for potentially limited public access.
The ground floor was divided into six large warehouse halls with direct street access to quickly load and unload merchandise. This functional layout shows how important efficiency was to colonial trade operations.
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