These 90 meters of neoclassical façade make up one of the most distinct architectural works in the contry. It was built as a place to form specialists in the exploitation of mines. During the revolution, it served as a barracks and now is a building that hosts cultural activities.
Despite his little experience as project architect, the Valencian Manuel Tolsá managed to construct a monumental palace in which the facades are not the only visual attraction. The interior is distinguished by the principle patio, the imperial stairs at the back and the Antigua Capilla of the Virgin of Guadalupe, where Maximiliano de Habsburgo would have stayed had he not chosen the Castillo de Chapultepec.
It forms part of the artistic and cultural heritage of the UNAM and is under the watchful eye of the Facultad de Ingeniería, and it’s also the headquarters of the International Book Fair.