Palacio de Bellas Artes, Santo Domingo, Neoclassical arts centre and theatre in Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic
Palacio de Bellas Artes is a neoclassical building in Santo Domingo featuring classical columns and spacious halls for performances and exhibitions. The interior hosts dance, theater, and art events that form the core of the city's cultural programming.
Construction fell under the Plan Bienal de Construcciones Escolares (1950–1952) during the Trujillo dictatorship, and the building was meant to open for the 1955 Feria de la Paz y Confraternidad del Mundo Libre. It was not ready in time and was inaugurated on 15 May 1956. The architect was Francisco Manuel Batista Bisonó and the engineer Bienvenido Aníbal Martínez Brea.
The palace is named after comedian Freddy Beras Goico, and its rotunda and meeting rooms follow Roman-influenced decoration while the auditorium keeps a Greek style. Two large murals by Spanish exile José Vela Zanetti hang on the stairs leading to the National Gallery. The National Biennial of Visual Arts, begun in 1942, still feeds the national modern art collection.
Visitors should check the current program schedule before visiting, as performances vary by season and cover different art forms. The building is centrally located in Santo Domingo and accessible on foot, with accommodations for all guests.
The walls' colour comes from a mix of uncoloured cement and sand from Boca Chica. At the entrances stood four 8.5-metre sculptures by Antonio Prats Ventós representing art and science; they were removed in 1969 and replaced with copies of European works.
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