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Museum · Assunção, Assunção
Museo Casa de la Independencia
The colonial house from 1772 where the conspirators of Paraguay’s independence met, and from which they left on the night of May 14 via the adjacent alley. Today it is a museum with period furniture, documents and portraits.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Museo Casa de la Independencia
The Casa de la Independencia is a colonial house on the corner of Presidente Franco and 14 de Mayo streets in downtown Asunción. It was built in 1772 by the Spaniard Antonio Martínez Sáenz, with adobe walls, a tiled roof and a structure of palm and taquara.
Pedro Juan Caballero, Fulgencio Yegros and other leaders of the movement against Spanish rule frequented the house, which became an ideal place to disguise secret meetings. On the night of May 14, 1811, the group left via the alley beside the house and proceeded to the barracks and the governor’s residence. In the early hours of May 15, Governor Bernardo de Velazco handed over command and Paraguay declared independence.
The house was bought by the government in 1943, declared a National Historic Monument in 1961 and opened as a museum in 1965. The rooms recreate the interior of a period house: the office with documents signed by the leading patriots, the dining room with a sword of Fulgencio Yegros, the room with French furniture from 1830 and portraits of Caballero and Yegros, and the bedroom with Fernando de la Mora’s bed. There are also religious images carved in Jesuit and Franciscan workshops.
The historic alley, the narrow passage the conspirators used to leave, still runs alongside the house and is part of the visit.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
30 to 45 minutes.
Best time
In the morning or early afternoon on weekdays. Confirm opening hours and days before you go.
How to get there
It’s on the corner of Presidente Franco and 14 de Mayo, in the centre, four blocks from the Catedral and three from the Panteón Nacional de los Héroes.
Tip
Walk through the alley beside the house: it’s the route the conspirators took on the night of May 14. When available, the guided tour helps explain the sequence of events that night.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Museo Casa de la Independencia
Why is the house linked to independence?
The leaders of the movement against Spanish rule met there. On the night of May 14, 1811 they went out through the adjacent alley to seize the barracks, and in the early hours of May 15 the governor handed over command.
When does the house date from?
From 1772. The walls are made of adobe, with a tiled roof, like the colonial houses of Asunción.
What can be seen in the museum?
Furnished rooms set up as a house of the period, documents signed by founding figures, portraits of Pedro Juan Caballero and Fulgencio Yegros, Yegros's sword, and religious images from Jesuit and Franciscan workshops.
How long does the visit take?
From 30 to 45 minutes. It pairs well with the Panteón and the Cathedral, a few blocks away.