The piece d’resistance for me, was the Palacio de Bellas Artes, (Palace of Fine Arts) built in the modern art deco style of its time. The magnificent building was originally constructed to celebrate the Mexican War of Independence in 1910. After problems with political uprisings and because the heavy marble structure was sinking into the soft subsoil (a continual problem for many structures in the City) it was finally completed in 1934. It replaced the former National Theater at the same site, which was the site of a sacrificial alter from the days of the Mexica, and later the Convent of San Isabel, built in1680 and lasting until the 1860’s, when it was replaced by a textile mill and lower class housing.
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| Above - photo from a travel website showing the Palacio |
Cultural events held here include music, dance, theater, opera and literary performances and the Ballet Folklórico de México, which we were fortunate to attend. The theater itself is spectacular with a stained-glass curtain depicting the Valle de México that was assembled by Tiffany & Co from almost a million pieces of colored glass and weighing over 24 tons.
The dramatic performance we attended represented different Mexican cultures, their dance, dress and music. It was very lively and entertaining, even involving audience participation.
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| Dancers come down into the audience for a closer look |
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| At one point a dancer invited a woman from our group to dance with him |
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| Two young boys collect and audience as they give a little concert in the hallway of the Theater |
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