Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Palacio de Bellas Artes
A true masterpiece of architectural design, the
lovely Palacio de Bellas Artes is one of Mexico
City's most beloved buildings and is home to an
excellent performing arts center. It was designed
by Italian architect Adamo Boari. Its broad plaza
and formal flower gardens blend into the natural
beauty of the adjacent Alameda Central.
$
Lobby and Vestibule
A classic Art Deco
black marble stairway,
leads into the vestibule.
Across the black-and-white
marble floor are the metal-
lic theater doors
(below)
.
Top 10 Features
1 Statues of Pegasus
2 Façade Sculptures
3 Eagle
4 Lobby and Vestibule
5 Courtyard
6 Murals
7 Theater
8 Art Exhibitions
9 Museo Nacional de
Arquitectura
0 Ballet Folklórico de Mexico
Sculpture, central lunette,
Palacio de Bellas Artes
Admission is free on
Sundays; the theater
is open to the public
(1-1:30pm Mon-Fri
and during events).
!
Statues of Pegasus
There is an extra
charge to visit the
Museo Nacional de
Arquitectura, of most
interest to serious
architecture fans.
Four sculptures of the
winged horse, Pegasus, in
a variety of aspects, by
Agustín Querol, stand in
the esplanade in front of
the entrance to the
performing arts center
(below)
.
Dine surrounded by
resplendent Art Deco
at the Café del Palacio
in the lobby.
£
Eagle
t
Map N2
t
Eje Central Lázaro
Cárdenas and Av Juárez
t
5512-2593
t
10am-6pm Tue-Sun
t
35 pesos, free Sun
t
www.bellasartes.gob.
mx
On the dome is Geza
Marotti's sculpture of the
Mexican national symbol, an
eagle
(below)
.
It is perched
on a cactus, eating a snake.
Figures under the eagle
represent comedy, tragedy,
drama, and lyrical drama
.
@
Façade Sculptures
The exterior façade has
intricate and ornate
sculptures in the arch
above the main doorway. In
the center Leonardo
Bistolfi's (1859-1933),
Birth
of Venus
, represents harm-
ony. The statues on either
side, by Boni, symbolize
love and hate.
20
Preceding pages
Aerial view of Palacio de Bellas Artes at dusk
