The city of the 30 Knights and the Zevallos building… 
 

The Zevallos building, located on Avenida 1, which was once called Calle Real, as it was the main street, owes its name to the man who was once its owner, “Count” José Manuel de Zevallos, originally from Villa Polanco in Santander, Spain, and captain of the Royalist Forces of the Kingdom of Spain. The building was built in 1687, sixty-nine years after the founding of the Villa de Córdoba.

 

The building has had several functions. Originally, it was the home of the De Zevallos family in the 17th and 18th centuries. Later, it was used to house travelers who disembarked in Veracruz and continued on their way to Mexico City. But its fame is due to the fact that on August 24, 1821, it hosted General Agustín de Iturbide and the last viceroy of New Spain, Don Juan de O'Donojú, during the signing of the Treaties of Córdoba, a document that marked the beginning of Independent Mexico.

 

It is said that during the time of the Revolution, Venustiano Carranza, then the country's first president, handled his affairs in Córdoba and several of his activities were carried out at the Zevallos building.

 

In 1921, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Treaties of Córdoba, the Hotel Zevallos was the venue for numerous events presided over by the then president Álvaro Obregón. By then, the portal was beginning to be used as a meeting place for the most notable families of the city.

 

Architecturally, it has a construction system typical of the period, based on thick stone walls covered with lime, tuscan columns, barrel vaults, semicircular arches, ceramic floors, stone floors in the central courtyard and all the corridors overlooking the courtyard have wooden beams. In 1944, its tile roof was changed to the current one made of earthenware, the fountain that was in the middle of the courtyard was destroyed and years later it was rebuilt in the original style.

 

Despite having experienced events such as the disqualification carried out by the army, the collapse of walls and even the strongest earthquake recorded in the area, in August 1973, it is now stronger than ever.

 

Today, it has been modernized without losing its original structure and retains the same appearance as three centuries ago. In the portals there are two restaurants, the Café Parroquia and the Tabachín, which give life to the city. On the second floor is the restaurant El Balcón, which, being located in the upper portals, offers diners a spectacular panoramic view of the Plaza de Armas. Inside the upper floor, there is the Hotel Boutique Casa Zevallos, which is ideal for resting and immersing yourself among characters of history and legend.