El Teatro Nacional

Naomi Alvarez

El Teatro Nacional is a famous and important monument in Costa Rica that has 1140 seats. It represents the aspirations of a generation called the Liberals where they wished to live on a path based on education, culture, and peace.

Adelina Pati. Pati was a famous Italian Opera Singer. After the Costa Ricans caught wind that she had performed in Guatemala (on a beautiful stage, no less), the rich Ticos (Costa Ricans)  wanted to experience that performance for themselves in their homeland. They quickly invited her to perform in Costa Rica yet she swiftly declined because the Ticos had no beautiful stage (or a stage at all), unlike the Guatemalans, for her to perform on. As a result, the rich went to the president and requested a theater be built. Thus, the tax of 5 colones was imposed and construction began. 

It was opened to the public in October of 1897 after 7 years of construction. Construction of the building was paid through the 5 colon tax. These taxes were initially charged on coffee exports since the building was constructed during a time where coffee exports were an origin of its success. After complaints from the people/workers, the taxes were modified to later be charged on things like rice and beans. 

The statues you see atop the building are replicas. The original statues, made of marvel in Italy, are now housed inside of the building since they were beginning to wither and deteriorate due to car fumes and similar gasses.

All structures in the building come from Germany, etc. art comes from Italy. Granite stones from Costa Rican volcanoes. Took seven years. 

Fun Fact: El Teatro Nacional doesn’t really have any true rivals anymore. It used to have one rival (Teatro Mora), but it was destroyed in an earthquake.