Information about Casa Gorordo Museum

Photo from Casa Gorardo Museum Facebook Page

Casa Gorordo Museum

Casa Gorordo Museum is declared as a historical landmark of the nation featuring a glimpse of
Spanish colonialism. Located in Lopez Jaena Street, the museum is a two storey bahay na bato
colonial house - a typical Filipino home in the 19th century that houses many old and ancient
artifact collection reflecting the lifestyle of Cebuanos during the period from 1860s to 1920s
History
Built in 1850, Casa Gorordo was originally owned by Alejandro Reynes Y Rosales. In 1863, it
was bought by Juan Isidro Gorordo, a Spanish merchant. Since then, four generations of
Gorordo family, one of the wealthy clans in the city, have stayed in this home until 1979. The
place then was well known as the home of the first Filipino Archbishop of Cebu, Juan Gorordo
and it is from him that the museum takes its name. After it was acquired by the Ramon Aboitiz
Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) in 1980, the home was converted into a museum and was declared by
the National Historical Institute Board as a historical landmark in 1991.
Visitors are taken into a venture back to the past with a tour inside different rooms of the
museum and discovering how Ilustrados of the past once lived.
In 2005, the museum undergo a major renovation to replace aging elements. Then, it was again
closed in the late 2013 to give way for enhancement projects and new features perfect for the
millennial and young tourists.
Architecture
Casa Gorordo Museum is a two storey Spanish styled colonial house made from wood and
stone. The lower part of the museum has walls made from Mactan coral stones while most of
the materials used in the construction of the upper storey was pure Philippine hardwood. Inside
the museum is a floor made out of molave while the roof is composed of terra cotta tiles.
Features
The museum prides itself with an enriched artifact collections such as antique furniture, period
costumes, paintings and religous relics, and other household items. It also features a gallery for
modern day art exhibits, ceramics, pottery, and other cultural activities.
With its enhancement project, the museum offers a virtual experience through films in the mini-
theater, interactive exhibits, and other upgrades like the 3D virtual map that showcases the
history of Cebu. Visitors can get more information through their Android mobile devices with QR
codes affixed to museum displays.
Its cafe and museum shops offers Casa Gorordo Museum-branded souvenir items that are only
available in the museum.