National Theatre of Costa Rica, Opera house and theater in downtown San José, Costa Rica
The National Theater features a neoclassical facade with marble statues, ornate gold leaf decorations, and Belgian iron work throughout its interior spaces.
Coffee export taxes funded the construction of this national monument, which opened its doors in 1897 to establish San José as a cultural center.
The theater ceiling displays the Alegoría al Café y Banano mural, depicting Costa Rican coffee and banana harvests through classical European painting techniques.
Guided tours in multiple languages operate daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, allowing visitors to explore the main hall, foyer, and historical exhibition areas.
The theater's marble floor tiles traveled from Italy to Costa Rica by ship, then moved inland by ox cart through mountains to reach San José.
Location: San José
Inception: 1897
Architectural style: neoclassicism
Operator: Ministerio de Cultura y Juventud
Address: Calle 3 Manuel María Gutiérrez
Website: http://teatronacional.go.cr
GPS coordinates: 9.93317,-84.07697
Latest update: May 27, 2025 09:50
Costa Rica spans 19,700 square miles (51,100 square kilometers) between the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, offering photographers a concentration of varied landscapes within a compact area. The country maintains over 30 national parks and protected areas, including Arenal Volcano, whose near-perfect cone rises 5,479 feet (1,670 meters) above surrounding rainforest, and Monteverde Cloud Forest, where mist drifts through canopy vegetation supporting rare species such as the resplendent quetzal. Rio Celeste flows through Tenorio Volcano National Park, displaying its characteristic turquoise color from volcanic minerals, while Tabacon Hot Springs delivers naturally heated water from underground sources. Coastal regions present diverse subjects, from the beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park, where white-faced capuchin monkeys move through trees, to Cahuita National Park on the Caribbean coast with its coral reefs. The Nicoya Peninsula and Papagayo Peninsula provide access to Tamarindo Beach and Santa Teresa Beach, while the southern zone includes Marino Ballena National Park, named for its whale-shaped sandbar visible at low tide. Tortuga Island, off the coast of Puntarenas, serves as a day-trip destination. Inland, San Jose Central Market documents daily commerce, the National Theater displays neoclassical architecture from 1897, and Guayabo National Monument preserves pre-Columbian ruins. Cerro Chirripó rises to 12,533 feet (3,820 meters) as the country's highest point, offering views of both oceans in clear conditions.
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