Haciendas are to Mexico what palaces are to Spain. Haciendas were first established in Mexico in the 16th century by Spanish settlers with vast plots of land comparable to American plantations. Hacienda style homes were infused with Spanish and Native American influences, rustic touches, colorful hand painted tiles, sprawling floor plans, and covered terraces. Nowadays, they are very popular in the southwestern part of the United States where they are built in an open and rural setting.
