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The Antonio Nariño House Museum (Casa Museo Antonio Nariño) in Villa de Leyva pays homage to one of Colombia’s most important historic figures. Antonio Nariño (1765-1824) sparked an independence from Spain by translating the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen into Spanish. He lived the last two months of his life in the house before a lung infection took his life at the age of 58.
The house is located just two blocks from Plaza Mayor in the historic city center. Admission is free and it’s open Thursday to Tuesday. Hours are 9am to noon and 2pm to 5pm. The entire museum is in Spanish.
Ground Floor
The rooms on the ground floor contain items from the early 19th century and displays that tell the story of Colombian independence.
Patio
The patio has a copy of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and interpretive panels about each right. In the back of the house is a pleasant garden you can walk through.
Second Floor
The second floor of the house can be visited on a guided tour only. The tours run frequently throughout the day and are worth waiting for. You can see period furniture such as a living room set from Europe, a bed, and personal items owned by Nariño. There’s also a replica of the prison cells that housed Nariño for much of his life.
