La Casona, San Jose
Visitors who love souvenirs but don't love the time it takes to track them down should head to La Casona. It is said to be the largest souvenir market in all of San Jose. Visitors are certain to find bargains on typical gifts and souvenirs. This is especially true if they are good at haggling.
La Casona is more than a souvenir shop. It is also a piece of history. The building that now holds numerous booths selling inexpensive souvenirs dates to 1908. It was originally a hardware store that was owned by Miguel Macaya Artuze. Nearly 70 years later, Ricardo Baltodano Chamberlain rented the store to create space for the La Casona market.
Architect Jaime Carranza remodeled the store in a neoclassical architectural style. It was redesigned to more closely match some of the architecture of the city. Specifically, the architect chose to use edged stone for the flooring, which matches San Jose's sidewalks.
La Casona is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM. It is closed on Sundays.
La Casona is more than a souvenir shop. It is also a piece of history. The building that now holds numerous booths selling inexpensive souvenirs dates to 1908. It was originally a hardware store that was owned by Miguel Macaya Artuze. Nearly 70 years later, Ricardo Baltodano Chamberlain rented the store to create space for the La Casona market.
Architect Jaime Carranza remodeled the store in a neoclassical architectural style. It was redesigned to more closely match some of the architecture of the city. Specifically, the architect chose to use edged stone for the flooring, which matches San Jose's sidewalks.
La Casona is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM. It is closed on Sundays.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in San Jose. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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La Casona on Map
Sight Name: La Casona
Sight Location: San Jose, Costa Rica (See walking tours in San Jose)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: San Jose, Costa Rica (See walking tours in San Jose)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in San Jose, Costa Rica
Create Your Own Walk in San Jose
Creating your own self-guided walk in San Jose is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Buildings Tour
What's known today as San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, came into being as a small settlement during the Spanish invasion, circa the mid-16th century. From a town of little importance, San Jose eventually evolved into a densely-populated cosmopolitan city, built mostly with proceeds from coffee trade.
The historic architecture of San Jose is a mix of European and Latin American styles... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
The historic architecture of San Jose is a mix of European and Latin American styles... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Shopping and Food Walking Tour
Walking the pedestrian-friendly promenades of Costa Rica's capital – San Jose – is a great way to experience the local culture. Despite an occasional rainstorm, the country's tropical weather makes outdoor shopping an undeniably fun experience. The downtown part of San Jose has no shortage of department stores, traditional marketplaces and souvenir shops selling handcrafts.
The... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
The... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
San Jose Introduction Walking Tour
The history of San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica, is that of growth and transformation. Founded in 1736 by the Spanish colonial administration (Cabildo de León) to concentrate the scattered inhabitants of the area, San Jose lacked formal city status until 1812. Surprisingly, but only two years later, the status was revoked. However, in 1820, it was reinstated, and San Jose became Costa... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
17 Uniquely Costa Rican Things to Buy in San Jose
Not to be confused with San Jose, the sunny California, San Jose, Costa Rica is the capital city of a wet (250 centimeters of rainfall per year) and colorful Latin American country renowned for its diverse craftsmanship (courtesy of the numerous indigenous tribes), splendid coffee and rich cultural...