Located in Mexico City's Coyoacan neighborhood, Frida's Casa Azul still maintains the brilliant design and details she enjoyed during her years in the home. The striking blue home stands out on the corner of Londres and Allende. It can be reached by most bus lines and has even become a stop on a popular Frida and Diego tour.
Kahlo's Beautiful Blue House
Frida's childhood home would later become the home she shared with the famed Diego Rivera. It then became a museum only fours years after her passing. Her husband, Diego Rivera, wanted it given to the people of Mexico, who Frida so loved. The home was briefly closed during the 90's when it underwent renovations, but reopened in 2004. The original details, design and even color scheme was kept and visitors remark that the home looks untouched as if it was left in the same condition it was found when Frida roamed the grounds.
The History of Frida's Home
The Casa Azul was built by her father before in 1907, the year she was born. It would later stand as the matrimonial abode she shared with husband, Diego Rivera. The home stands as a testament to the colorful characters and lives of it's famed inhabitants and holds special historic significance for Mexico's vibrant political history. One of the most famed guests, Leon Trotsky, stayed with his wife at the home at the request of Diego. Though estranged at the time, Frida and Diego maintained relations to support the Communist cause, something they both strongly believed in.
Frida's Home: Backdrop for Romance and Scandal
Diego and Frida's relationship was a heated mixture of scandal, divorce and remarriage. However, the home maintains the intimate details of tenderness and adoration the famous couple had for one another. The kitchen still holds the culinary wares used by Frida to make Diego's favorite dishes. In the courtyard, a replica of pyramid ruins was built by Diego to house Frida’s Pre-Columbian artifacts.
Frida's Exuberance Still Alive on the Grounds
Walking through the gardens visitors describe an energy and spark of life that remains long after Frida's absence. Her love of plants and enjoyment of the outdoors is evidenced by several sitting areas where guest can take a break and enjoy the surroundings. It is easy to comprehend why her work was so vivacious and brilliant with such a stunning backdrop. Her parrot and spider monkey must have felt quite at home in the jungle-like atmosphere that maintained the fire and essence of Frida's culture, and the homeland she so admired.
Visiting the Museum at the Casa Azul
Frida's Casa Azul is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am until 6:00pm. Located in the Mexico City suburb of Coyoacan, the home is found at 247 on Calle Londres in the Colonia del Carmen. It is accessible by foot, car and bus.
For further information on the life of Frida Kahlo visit her informational site maintained by PBS in connection with a movie about the painter.
Vivian Nelson Melle - Vivian is a special educator, counselor and mother who turns life experiences into helpful lessons.
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