All about Casa Duarte Molina in Mérida, Mexico

Casa Molina Duarte is one of the remarkable buildings, located in the very best location directly on Paseo de Montejo (diagonally across from Casa Montes Molina), representing a value of several million dollars and yet abandoned for many years.

There is relatively little information about the building. The eclectic-style villa with Italian reminiscences was built, in the second decade of the twentieth century, towards the end of the big hennequen boom in Yucatan, probably 1908.

During this time, several others of the great mansions on Paseo de Montejo were also built. The period of 1880 to 1915 are usually considered to be the henequen boom years.

The property is impressive for its elaborate pastel-colored façade with its porticoes, arcades, gables and decorations, and also stands out for its gardens and, inside, for its salons with pasta and marble floors and carved wooden furniture.

By the way, you will find more so-called Lost Places in Mérida.

Owners

According to the available records, in 1929, the property 452 in Calle 56-A - that is the Paseo de Montejo - was inhabited by Dr. Fernando Molina Font (1891 to 1963), after whom the house is named today.

The house was later owned for a long time by Isolina Duarte Montalvo, the widow of Hugo Molina Font (a brother of Dr. Molina Font), until she passed away in February 2005.