Casas Gemelas/Cámara

Museum · Mérida ·

Beaux-Arts Twin Houses: Museum w/ opulent rooms, marble

Information

C. 58 492, Zona Paseo Montejo, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico Get directions

@michelinguide

48,380 Postcards · 8,030 Cities

Where To Go In And Around Mérida, Mexico

"Near the beginning of handsome promenade Paseo Montejo sit two stately homes that look so similar they're called Twin Houses—but they're not exactly the same. The 1911 Beaux-Arts mansions were built for brothers Ernesto and Camilo Cámara Zavala whose family wealth came from henequen plantations. One of the houses is for sale, and the other opened to the public for the first time in January 2021 as a museum. Walking through the grand front doors is a step back in time to Yucatán’s golden age. Eye an enormous chandelier, the first in Yucatán’s wired for electricity, as you take a shorted guided tour through the opulent rooms full of Carrara marble from Italy, stained glass windows from France, ornate plasterwork, and rich wood and gilded furniture. Montejo 495, 9am-5pm Thurs-Sun, MXN250" - Sophie Friedman

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/travel/where-to-go-in-and-around-merida-mexico

Casas Gemelas/Cámara

@michelinguide

48,380 Postcards · 8,030 Cities

Where To Go In And Around Mérida, Mexico

"Near the start of Paseo Montejo, stepping into the Twin Houses museum feels like a time warp to Yucatán’s golden age: a 1911 Beaux-Arts mansion built for brothers Ernesto and Camilo Cámara Zavala, where I eye an enormous chandelier—the first in Yucatán wired for electricity—on a short guided tour through opulent rooms lined with Italian Carrara marble, French stained glass, ornate plasterwork, and rich wood and gilded furniture." - Sophie Friedman

https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/travel/where-to-go-in-and-around-merida-mexico

Casas Gemelas/Cámara

Nas L.

Google

Waited for 15 minutes past their opening time and there was no sign of life anywhere. Looked at the house from outside. From a distance it looks old and nice, but when you get closer it actually looks dirty with the outside kind of run down and full of black mold, in need ot some serious cleaning. Might look good on the inside, I guess I'll never find out. I was here on a Tuesday, at 9 when they should have been open. It is 9.18 now and still closed. Looks like someone else was waiting for them too and gave up and left. Update: sign outside says open Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5pm. Passed by here at 12.00 noon and still closed.

Ana M.

Google

I am mexican but fully bilingual and took the tour in english with my family because it was the only one left. The level of english in which the tour was given was honestly a disgrace. We all had the hardest time understanding what the tour guide was saying, there was a deaf guy with us, who was using his phone to translate and even the phone coudnt understand a thing he was saying. Honestly if you dont speak spanish and were thinking about getting a tour here in english, good luck. And to “Casas Gémelas”, if you are charging 250 pesos per head for a tour in english dont you think the bare minimum would be to get tour guides who can actually give the tour in english? Out of respect for the tour guide I wont post his name here but he gave an incomprehensible tour and didnt stop a single time to ask people if they had questions, or give people time to take pictures. If you didnt follow him out he would start explaining without you, I imagine its because they have a tight schedule but the quality of the MANDTORY tour was awful.

Wendy D.

Google

This is another place you must visit while in Merida. One of the houses has been open after 2021, so the access to this beautiful house is pretty new. The tour helps you understand the wealth of the families in Yucatan and how the power belong to a couple of families in the times of the Haciendas of henequen.

Uriel P.

Google

Really Nice Museum, you can have a glance of the old Fancy Mexico days.

Javier G.

Google

Best of this place was we met Ms Barbachan at the shop, member of the last family that lived there, very interesting talk.

William S

Google

We were walking past and saw people waiting out the front so thought we would explore too. The entrance fee is very high at 250 pesos for non locals, and 150 pesos for Yucatan residents. 100 pesos for teachers / students. Additional 50 pesos to take photos per a phone. This is a private home owned by a wealthy family, they are turning their home and family history into a museum. You can see the luxuries they had/have. The price is extremely high considering. We were told the cost of the ticket goes towards the renovations of the house. The guide and staff were lovely. Majority of the house is closed due to renovations.

David M.

Google

Wonderful old buildings makes great photography hopefully will be restored...

R J.

Google

Enjoyed the guided tour. Beautiful home with interesting story. Recommend a visit.