BY GABRIELA GÄTJENS C.

The city of Heredia originates around the year 1706, when several neighbors of the communities surrounding Cartago the former capital founded a hermitage on the western place called “Alvirilla”. Now it is one of the districts of the populated province of Heredia.

Shortly after, in 1716, the town was transferred more towards the north to a site that the natives used to call "Cubujuquí". But when time passed by, the number of inhabitants grew and they began to call the little place Old Villa of the Immaculate Conception of Cubujuquí; thus, its major church is dedicated to the virgin of the Immaculate Conception of Maria. The beautiful site is located to the east side of the Central Park of this city.

Further down into history, the name of Heredia is due to the Commander in chief of Guatemala, Alonso Fernandez de Heredia, who granted the title of Villa to this growing town, not even, “city”. It was in the XVIII and XIX centuries, when the majority of this old one and stately buildings and houses were constructed.

The Central Park stands out right in the heart of Heredia, an elegant treeshaded square with its kiosk of beautiful simplicity. This park is considered to be one of the nicest in the country. In the middle of this peaceful park, is located an impressive water fountain surrounded by plenty of benches to sit on, so it’s the ideal spot to take a break. The fountain has a graceful design that reminds of the elegancy of the Old Europe and a past époque: Heredia of old rich families of coffee growers that used to sit there to spend the sunny Sunday’s afternoons.

While sitting at the park, look around and you’ll find three of Costa Rica’s best examples of colonial architecture: The Immaculate Conception Church, the Casa de la Cultura Museum and the Fortín (the Fort). The church exterior was bare stone. In the last few years it was restored and painted white. But it stone heart still shows underneath the white paint. The beautiful stain glass windows, ornamental vaulted ceilings and an altar, decorated with great attention to detail, hide inside its walls.

The Fortín is a small circular brick and stone building. It is the only that remains of a late 18th century Spanish fortress. Experts say that the bastion was built for peace and not war because its gun slits open outward, almost inviting bullets to enter.

You ought to visit and see this interesting place. One of these places that holds most history and pride is the Casa de la Cultura: the culture house, now a Museum that provides an insight into Costa Rican history: The current House of Culture at Heredia downtown holds between its walls more than 200 years of history. The old “Casona” is located on the north side of the Central park the capital of the province of Heredia.

It was built by the Spanish, Pedro Antonio Solares, who arrived around 1792 at our country and decided to turn Heredia into his home town. Antonio Solares used to travel a lot. Being a wealthy trader allowed him to bring materials from all over the world, mainly from Europe and thus he owned one of the best houses of that time.

That same house was used as an overseas warehouse, due to the fact the spanish gentleman brought articles from the old continent to sell them to the “heredianos” and people from other towns. Pedro Antonio Solar died in 1822 and his house remains inhabit by his descendants.

In 1880, a new occupier arrived, Domingo González, father of the Costa Rican president Alfredo González Flores, between 1914 and 1917. In this same house don Alfredo González spend his whole life, be came president, lived there while he was ruling the country and grew older until he died in 1962.

It is worth to emphasize some of the achievements of this former president, he has done while in office: The creation of the Normal School (he obliged children to attend to classes for free) today, this school remains as Liceo de Heredia and the creation of the National Bank, among other infrastructure and administrative achieves.

According to the historian Manuel Argüello, most of the original structure is preserved up to our days, as they are: the stone sidewalks that are around the house, the mosaic tile corridor brought from Europe. The verandas and large windows carved in the best wood that could get in those times: Cocobolo (purple heart wood).

“There is also a bathroom, still it is original, built around 1880, which is an exquisite detail, and then nobody had a bath like that. Nobody had a bath inside the house. The house was one of the biggest and still is very well kept” pointed out Argüello. “Also, some of the furniture that belonged to the former president, like they are: the bed, the wardrobe, the writing desk, a chair and some of the pictures on the walls.

The building was declared to be a National Monument at Novem­ber, 2nd, 1974; also, Relic of Architectonic Interest on September, 27th, 1979.