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- Location: Central, San Jose
- Date of construction: 1897
- Current use: Theater
Possibly the most famous and well-known building in downtown San Jose. The National Theater was opened by the State in 1897, after several privately-owned theaters went broke. It was financed at the time through an export tax on coffee, and hence became a symbol of the economic prosperity brought on by this product.
No expense was spared in the construction of this theater. The wood detailing incorporates several rare and highly-valued species. Steel, gold and marble were imported from Europe, and the glass panels were made in France. Though this may seem commonplace today, remember that in 1897 Costa Rica was the proverbial Banana Republic (coffee republic?), with none of the paved roads or airports you see today. Something as simple as bringing a wood panel from outside the city could take weeks or months, let alone import it from Europe.
Several statues decorate the interior as well as the exterior. At the main entrance are Beethoven and Calderón de la Barca.
In 1991, the theater was seriously damaged by the Limón earthquake (7.6 Mw). Having been built at a time when the steel industry was nonexistant, the walls and structure for the most part lacked reinforcement. The building did not collapse, but suffered enough damage to warrant closure. Through several private and public campaigns, funds were acquired to reinforce and repair the structure.
The theater has undergone several modifications recently, among the most notable the red color on the roof. The roof used to be turquoise, but was taken back to red, the original color it had when it was built.
The theater is still used today, for orchestra, dance and stage performances. Events calendar and online ticket purchases can be made at www.teatronacional.go.cr
Next to the theater is the Plaza de la Cultura, the underground Gold Museum, and the Gran Hotel Costa Rica.
See also[]