Iconic, imposing and absolutely beautiful, the Palace of Fine Arts is the most important cultural venue in Mexico, recognized and respected throughout the world. It is located in the Historic Center of Mexico City and is home to the National Symphony Orchestra, the National Opera Company and the Amalia Hernández Folkloric Ballet. It also houses various works of art, including murals by Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros. Inside there are also the Museum of Fine Arts and the National Museum of Architecture.
It was designed at the end of the 19th century as part of various public works that would be carried out to celebrate the centenary of Mexico’s independence in 1910. Its construction began in 1904 and was in charge of the Italian architect Adamo Boari, but the work had to be interrupted when the Mexican Revolution began. Although attempts were made to resume intermittently, the project was always in danger of being modified or cancelled. When Mexico finally achieved relative stability, construction resumed in 1931 and it was officially inaugurated in 1934.
Since its construction spanned so many years and many architects and artists were involved, its general style is eclectic: while the exterior is purely art nouveau, the interior is dominated by art deco, strongly influenced by the nationalist era of the 1930s. It stands out that the main stage has a glass curtain designed and manufactured by the Tiffany & Co. House in which the majestic volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl are represented.
It is worth mentioning that, throughout its more than 85 years of existence, this venue has presented a large number of plays, operas, symphonic, philharmonic and popular concerts, pictorial or other exhibitions, national and international; presidential inaugurations… and mourning wakes for the most representative figures of Mexican culture and arts.
