Experience Casa Del Artesano: A piece of Puerto Rico in Downtown Kissimmee
Nothing captures the soul of a country and its people like its traditional arts and crafts, especially when they are lovingly created and passed down from generation to generation. And nothing makes us feel at home instantly, even though far away, like experiencing the vibrant colors, textures, sounds and aromas of the familiar streets where we grew up.
That is why stepping into Casa Del Artesano, a charming boutique in Downtown Kissimmee, is like being transported back to “la islita” with all its unique encanto. Here the Puerto Rican identity is celebrated in all its richness and color: the Taino, the Spanish, and the African.
A look inside Casa Del Artesano
Once inside the shop, it’s easy to see that this colorful space is much more than a boutique filled with typical paintings, handcrafted soaps, porcelain dolls, and gorgeous jewelry created by artists from different corners of Puerto Rico.
Everywhere you look — and there isn’t a nook or cranny where this isn’t true! — the art displayed captures the beauty and history of the island. For example, there are paintings that recreate traditional activities such as mundillo (lace making) or the preparation of the very Boricua (and delicious!) pasteles. And who can forget abuela making coffee by straining it through a bolsita (coffee sock)?
All around the store are strategically placed island shaped trinket trays (bandejas boricuas) and art crafted from traditional items like the pilón (mortar and pestle), as well as renderings of the coquí, that tiny frog with the unique sound that is native to the island.
But even though there is a lot to see, you shouldn’t worry that you’ll miss anything; all the displays are beautifully organized for your browsing pleasure. Each artist’s work is thoughtfully presented, complete with their personal bio.
More than a boutique with sabor boricua
But if you were charmed by this very boricua boutique, Casa Del Artesano is so much more! It’s also a place to explore and nurture creativity in all its forms.
The boutique, for example, hosts art classes where visiting artisans teach visitors how to craft everything from hair ribbons to flautas (hand-made flutes). As a bonus, you can take home your own handcrafted treasures.
Once you’ve explored Casa Del Artesano, more awaits you outside the store. A leisurely stroll through the backdoor will lead you to Pa’l Callejón (a spot off Pleasant Street), a lively alleyway that features a bar, live music, and a food truck serving boricua treats, including the popular piraguas (snow cones).
Whether you go for the art, the classes, the ambiance, or (especially!) the food found in el callejón, this delightful rinconcito boricua will fill your heart with memories of home in Downtown Kissimmee.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.
