Casa del Deán: what to know before visiting

Casa del Deán is a historic house and museum administered by INAH-Centro INAH Puebla. Built between 1564 and 1580 for Tomás de la Plaza y Goes, the third dean of Puebla Cathedral, it is described by INAH as the oldest work of its kind in Puebla and an architectural precedent for the later construction of the Cathedral.

The original house stood on a plot of 1,708 square meters, with two large courtyards, an imposing staircase and upper-floor rooms facing the main street. Its gray-quarry-stone façade, which survives today, has Renaissance styling.

Much of the house was demolished in 1953 for a planned cinema, but the main façade, part of the staircase and two mural rooms were saved. The museum opened to the public on January 1, 1984.

Casa del Deán stands at Avenida 16 de Septiembre 505 in Puebla’s Centro Histórico. Its central address makes it easy to include in a day spent walking around the historic centre; the Puebla Centro walking guide covers the wider area.

Look for the historic façade along the street before going inside. The exterior is a reminder of the much larger house that once occupied the site, while the preserved staircase and mural rooms offer a glimpse of what survived demolition.

The two mural rooms are the main focus of the museum visit. The Secretaría de Cultura describes them as the only registered example of civil mural painting in Mexico.

The first room contains La cabalgata de las Sibilas. Its sibyls—prophetesses of classical antiquity—announce the coming, Passion and death of Jesus Christ. In the second room, the series De los triunfos draws on Francesco Petrarca’s poem and depicts the Triumphs of Love, Chastity, Fame, Time, Death and Eternity.

Plan your visit around these two rooms, then take time to notice the surviving architectural elements and façade. The Museo Amparo visit guide can help you plan another museum stop in Puebla’s historic centre.

General admission is MXN 75–80, depending on the source; the INAH figure for foreign visitors is MXN 145. Visits outside regular hours cost MXN 730. Free Sunday admission applies to Mexican visitors, children under 13, students and teachers, and senior citizens.

Opening hours

• Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00–17:00
• Monday: closed

Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.

The Secretaría de Cultura also lists free entry for children under 13, students, teachers, older adults and people with disabilities who show valid official identification, as well as free entry on Sundays. Confirm the applicable price and eligibility directly before setting out.

The museum has restrooms and guided visits. INAH’s visitor rules prohibit smoking, food, pets and flash photography; professional cameras are subject to a fee. For current hours, admission and access details, check the official site before you go.

Casa del Deán’s central location makes it practical to combine the museum with other cultural stops in Puebla’s historic centre. Museo Amparo is at 2 Sur 708, and is open Wednesday through Monday, 10:00–18:00; it closes on Tuesdays.

General admission is MXN 85, with free entry for Puebla-state residents, students, teachers, children under 13, visitors over 65, and everyone on Sundays and public holidays.

Check the two museums’ schedules before planning the order of your visits: Casa del Deán is closed Mondays, while Museo Amparo is closed Tuesdays. Casa del Deán is about a three-minute walk from Hotel Santiago, a hotel in central Puebla.