Colegio de San Ignacio de Loyola Vizcaínas

Colegio de San Ignacio de Loyola Vizcaínas is a non-profit educational institution which was established in the mid 18th century in a Baroque building that occupies an entire city block in the historic center of Mexico City. The school has maintained most of its mission and organization and is the only continuously operating colonial era institution in Mexico. It was originally established for the education of orphaned girls and widows, but now it is co-educational. It offers education from kindergarten through senior high school (preparatoria, meaning "preparatory school"). The building is not generally open to tourists, but can be rented for social events, such as weddings.

The Colegio is a non-profit private institution dedicated to education. It is a co-educational school with a lay staff, providing education from kindergarten to preparatory school. It was founded in the 18th century in the building that is still occupies in the south of the historic center of Mexico City. The school is the only colonial era educational institution which as continued operations without closures since its founding. It still benefits those in need with scholarships and it is still governed by a “patronato,” who is the successor of a line that extends back to the original founders.

Two of the school’s most notable alumnae are Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, who was a protagonist during the Mexican War of Independence and Sara García, known as the “abuelita (little grandmother)” of Mexican cinema. Two of main costs of maintaining the school is scholarships and the need to preserved the 18th century Baroque structure. The school’s location is still fairly poor which makes the rehabilitation and conservation of the building more difficult. Conservation efforts are continuous. For example, three Christ figures were recently sent from the school to the Escuela Nacional de Conservación, Restauración y Museografía to be restored by students there. The school is affiliated with INAH.

As it is a private institution, tourists are generally not permitted inside. One of the main means by which the institution receives income aside from donations is the rental of the building itself for social events. The building can be rented for weddings, book presentation and graduations. Some of the famous people who have married here include Lucero and Manuel Mijares, Ninfal Salina, the daughter of Ricardo Salinas Pliego, the daughter of Carlos Slim and Bernardo Sepúlveda Amor, María Inés Guerra and Gustavo Guzmán Favela. The building has also been used to host foreign dignitaries such as the king of Spain. In January 2009, it was rented for a benefit concert given by musicians Elton John and James Blunt, as part of a Latin American tour. The stage was set up in the center of the main courtyard. The main courtyard can hold 1,200 people with another 350 in the chapel. The average cost of renting the building is about 350,000 pesos. Generally, these are weekend rentals only as the school still gives classes from Monday to Friday. Reservations are required six to eight months in advance.

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Wikipedia