Casa de Lis

As you walk through culture rich streets of the New Orleans French Quarter, you chance upon a rare instance of an open gate, allowing you to get a glimpse of a world usually hidden from view. This courtyard in particular reminds you that the Quarter is as much Spanish as it is French. The scene before you looks like it could be a San Antonio Hacienda. The richly carved door is set into an arch, mimicking the niche beside it, and features wrought iron hardware. The niche houses a statue of a herring and has a fleur de lis at its base to remind you that this is, indeed, the French Quarter. The owners have paid homage to the city’s Spanish heritage with rich, southwestern colors. The courtyard is inviting and you linger near its entrance, wondering about the people who lived here, both past and present.