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In 1776 by royal decree a bank and a Royal Mining College were to be constructed attesting to the silver boom of 1775-1776. Tolsá began work on the building in 1797. The building is often described as the best example of neoclassical architecture in Mexico City. The Real Seminario de Minería (1797-1813; now the Palacio de Minería), covering an area of almost 7500 sq. m and built around seven courtyards, is one of his finest architectural works. It is classical in style yet closely integrated with the surrounding contemporary architecture in Mexico City in a way that shows the direct dissemination of form and content to actual buildings at a time when academic architectural studies were important.; In 1776 by royal decree a bank and a Royal Mining College were to be constructed attesting to the silver boom of 1775-1776. Tolsá began work on the building in 1797. The building is often described as the best example of neoclassical architecture in Mexico City. The Real Seminario de Minería (1797-1813; now the Palacio de Minería), covering an area of almost 7500 sq. m and built around seven courtyards, is one of his finest architectural works. It is classical in style yet closely integrated with the surrounding contemporary architecture in Mexico City in a way that shows the direct dissemination of form and content to actual buildings at a time when academic architectural studies were important. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.oxfordartonline.com/ (accessed 6/22/2009)