The casona in which the taminango museum is housed, built in 1623, is not only the oldest house in Pasto, but also one of the oldest ones in the nation. The guide takes you through each room, explaining each of the crafts executed in Nariño Department: woodworking and carving, weaving, blacksmithing, copper and other metalwork, wool and paja weaving and Pasto’s varnish. This varnish comes from a bush called mopa-mopa. This plant grows in the rainy region of the Cordillera Oriental in Putumayo where it is collected by mocoas Indians since pre-Columbian times.

Also the museum includes the printing of Greek types that Dr. Leopoldo Lopez Alvarez used to publish bilingual versions of the Greek classics, as well as samples of his work. The museum was declared national monument in 1971.

If any craft catches your fancy, you can pick some up in the small, on-site shop.

Pict.1(left) and 2(right) Pasto’s Varnish or mopa- mopa.

Pict 3. and 4. Paja or Cabuya weaving

Pict 5. clay and copper crafts.

La historia dice que en los años más angustiosos de pasto 1824A este lugar iban algunos oficiales y jefes de los ejércitos invasores a encuentros íntimos con las mujeres que los acompañaban considerado esto como algo necesario para la disciplina a fin de que no se propasen con las mujeres de la ciudad o pueblo que llegaran a ocupar.

The story goes that in the years most distressing. 1824 In this place were some officers and heads of the invading armies intimate encounters with women who accompanied them considered this as necessary for discipline to not abuse the women of the town or village they came to occupy.

La casa fue rescatada por el trabajo de tres personas Catalina Moon de Morgan, el doctor pablo morillo y Monasco dachis quien dono el dinero para comprarla.

The house was rescued by the work of three people Catalina Morgan, Dr. Pablo Morillo and Monasco Dachis who donate money to buy it.

El arquitecto Gabriel Uribe Ceballos, se encargó de levantamientos de planos, elaboración de diseños, analicis de materiales etc, también se contó con maestros de obra y albañiles más antiguos como Alejandro jojoda, jose botina, jose maria canchala y peregrino guacas.

The architect Gabriel Uribe Ceballos, was responsible for surveying plans, preparation of designs, materials analysis etc. They also had master builders and masons oldest as Alejandro jojoda, jose botina, jose maria canchala and peregrine guacas.

La estructura estuvo a punto de ser demolida, pero gracias a la intervencion de algunas personas, fue rescatada y convertida en un museo en el cual se empezó a conservar las artesanías de la época, también algunas tradiciones como las plantas medicinales de la época de la colonia.

The Casona is an architectural relic declared a National Monument

the house was about to be demolished but thanks to the intervention of some people, was rescued and converted into a museum in which they began to keep the crafts and some traditions like a garden of medicinal plants of the colonial era colonial era

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