These are two beautiful constructions that represent Costa Rica's past and nowadays are the house for numerous cultural, and artistic events. Most people tend to confuse them or they do not know the history behind them. The two buildings are located within a 10 minutes walking distance from each other and it is worth to visit them if you have a chance.
Let's start with the CENAC (Centro Nacional de la Cultura) which stands for National Center of Culture. Its history goes back to the colonial period in 1850 when it was declared that it was necessary for Costa Rica to produce its own liquor out of the sugarcane as opposed to continue with the Spaniard Crown monopolization. This is how in 1856, it was inaugurated the FANAL (Fábrica Nacional de Licores), The National Factory of Liquor. The construction keeps a strong reliance on colonial architecture and with buildings with more than 150 years old it is a beautiful scenery. In 1981, the factory was moved to a different location due to the city growth and it was until 1994 that the CENAC was born. With an amphitheater, open plaza, different rooms and corridors, it provides shelter to many cultural, educational and artistic events. The main entrance is located on its west side which is in front of the Parque España. The CENAC is also where the Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo (Contemporary Art & Design Museum) is located which has its entrance on the southeast corner of the construction.
Up to the East from the entrance of the Contemporary Art and Design Museum in the CENAC, within a distance of 800 meters or so, there is the Antigua Aduana. It's takes me to comment on one of Costa Rica's interesting facts. Even though governments have made an effort to name the streets and avenues, you'll see that most of our directions/addresses will take a well-known reference point and then tell how many meters to walk from. Usually, those well-known reference points will take the names like Antigua Casa Matute Gómez, Antigua Aduana, etc. They'll have the "antigua" adjective as referring to what used to be there but not to what there is now. I guess it reveals a fear to let go the old, so we hold to it by remembering what used to be there and not acknowledging what is there now. I believe it is a sub-conscience way, we Costa Ricans have to hold on to the past.
Now, let's talk a little bit about the Antigua Aduana history which begun in 1891 when it was inaugurated. This construction used to be Costa Rica's customs building for the merchandise that came from the Atlantic. It was strategically built close to the Train Station to the Atlantic where merchandise coming was stored, registered and dispatched. Today, the construction is a beautiful blend between modern architecture and the historic patrimony that it represents.
It is a pleasure to visit any of these two buildings during one of the many activities that are organized throughout the year; for instance, recently the annual Book Fair was held in the Antigua Aduana and Enámorate de tu Ciudad also makes use of the CENAC rooms for Hip Hop/Break dance classes on Saturdays. Hopefully, this information will help to easily locate and appreciate both buildings.
