The Iron House / Casa de Fierro

Location:
Iquitos, Peru

Historical Building

By Kris Dreessen

The Casa de Fierro in Iquitos is just that—a house made of iron. Gustave Eiffel, the same architect who created the Eiffel Tower, built the Iron House for the Paris Exhibition in 1889. Tycoon Anselmo del Águila bought it and shipped it in pieces from Europe during the rubber-boom period. Natural rubber made from trees tapped in the jungle was big business for Iquitos during the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Wealthy rubber barons built elegant mansions and could afford indulgences, such such as transporting an entire house overseas. The Iron House was reconstructed in the Plaza de Armas in the southeast corner. Its steely, rugged exterior is a standout, but its history is more regal than its appearance today. The building looks like it's covered in sheets of tin patched together.

Downstairs there is a small pharmacy/drugstore, a restaurant and ice cream vendor. Walk upstairs for a drink or meal at the Regal Bar & Restaurant, which is run by the British consulate. The bar doubles as the consulate's office. Plaza de Armas offers a good view of the entire house. The sun shines off the iron in late afternoon, lighting it up with a warm glow.

Getting There
At the corner of Próspero and Putamayo, at the southeast corner of the Plaza de Armas.