The edifice

In 1989 Ernesto Cardenal and Dietmar Schönherr established the Foundation Casa de los Tres Mundos. As long ago as 1987 they purchased the former Casa de los Leones, a colonial style mansion in the center of Granada the history of which dates back to the sixteenth century. The restoration of the building, which took almost ten years, was realized by means of traditional methods of construction.

The necessary techniques, many of them forgotten, were rescued and documented, so that local workers could receive appropriate qualifications. In 1988 the works on the building started and in 1993 the main building as well as the first and the second inner court were finished. In this part today the historic archives of the city of Granada, offices, premises for events, a small photographic laboratory, the library and dormitories for artists and scholars who visit the Casa to work are located. Between 1994 and 1995 the area of the auditorium – a place for concerts and other public events – was finished. But as the offer of activities and courses augmented, the Casa faced the need to expand. In autumn of 1995 the restoration of the former court of justice, bordering the Casa in the back zone, was started. That way the old colonial building that was in a ruinous state was saved from decay. In December of the same year the former president Violeta Chamorro handed over the former state building in a ceremony to the city of Granada. In the donation document the annexation to the Casa de los Tres Mundos was settled. Three years later, in 1998, the restoration was successfully finished and today this area houses the artists´ studios, a printing workshop as well as the art school. Since the year 2004 the Casa also administers the “Pólvora”, which is located in the northwestern outskirts. The building, which was constructed in 1748/49 as a fort and powder magazine, was declared a national heritage and also houses a museum. Nowadays the brass players of the music school and some of the drawing students are practicing there.

The restoration works only were possible thanks to generous financial grants. That’s why we want to thank especially the following public institutions:

• Ministry of foreign affairs of the federal government of Germany (funds for the conservation of monuments)
• Federal Government of Austria (North-South Institute)
• Swiss Government (COSUDE)
• Dutch Government (News Project)
• City of Granada