Teatro Nacional de São Carlos

Commissioned to replace Teatro Ópera do Tejo, destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, Teatro Nacional de São Carlos is the only opera house in Portugal and follows the ‘Italian’ tradition of organisation, as attested by its neoclassical façade. Its interior, in a late Baroque style, is recognised as a unique piece of theatrical architecture. It was subject to adaptations in the following centuries, but the structure remains unchanged. The concert hall, with an ostentatious aristocratic atmosphere, was decorated by Giovanni Appianni and the ceiling was painted by Manuel da Costa and Cirilo Wolkmar Machado. Classified as a National Monument in 1928, its extraordinary value and architectural beauty, as well as the great relevance of its programming, make São Carlos a crucial asset in the Portuguese cultural scene.

#Building