Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City’s Cathedral of Art

MEXICO CITY, Mexico – Originally designed to house the national theater, the Palacio de Bellas Artes has become a cultural hub in arguably the most beautiful building in Mexico City.

Torre Latinoamericana
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The Palacio de Bellas Artes was built in the early 20th century to house the national theater, but it has become more than that. Some call it the “Cathedral of Art in Mexico.”

It has become a cultural hub of Mexico City–in addition to containing two theaters, there are important murals on display and a rotating architectural exhibition inside. Outside, it sits on the end of the Alameda Central park, a popular and scenic spot for locals to gather on a pleasant early evening amidst the hubbub of the city the sounds and the unevenly tuned melodies of the organilleros.

The building is also widely regarded as the most beautiful in Mexico City. It’s an unusual mix of Art Nouveau and Neo-Classical on the outside and soaring Art Deco on the inside. It makes for a striking combination, but it somehow works. It was conceived around 1905 but not actually completed until the mid-1930s.

The most eye-catching feature from the outside is the colorful roof dominated by three cupolas covered with orange and yellow tiles. On top of the main cupola is a cluster of statues depicting a Mexican eagle and figures representing the dramatic arts.

The roof sits atop a Neo-Classical structure clad in Italian marble and lined with columns and statues representing the dramatic arts.

Inside is quite different. It’s a bit like an Art Deco movie set, with strong, sharp lines and richly colored marbles. After a small entrance hall, you move up a short flight of steps to the main atrium. In here, you’re standing directly under the domes that you see on the outside.

Lining balconies around each floor in the atrium are exhibitions. The most striking is the permanent display of large murals by painters such as Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. Mostly dating to the 1930s through the 1950s, the murals sometimes explode out of their space and start creeping out along the ceiling.

The very top floor is devoted to the Museo Nacional de Arquitectura (National Museum of Architecture), which has a rotating exhibit related to Mexican architects and architecture.

Photos of Palacio de Bellas Artes

Torre Latinoamericana View North over Mexico City
View looking north out over Mexico City from the 44th floor of the Torre Latinoamericana building. In the foreground is the distinctive Palacio de Bellas Artes. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Murals in the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
A 1934-35 mural painting by Jose Clemente Orozco titled “Catharsis” (Katharsis). Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Dome Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
The building was completed in 1934 and features a distinctive tiled roof on the domes. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Torre Latinoamericana
View of the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City from the 44th floor of the Torre Latinoamericana building. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Statues in Front of the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Art Deco Interior of the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Murals in the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
A 1936 fresco mural by Diego Rivera titled “Carnival of Mexican Life” (Carnaval de la vida mexicana). Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Statues in Front of the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Torre Latinoamericana View North over Mexico City
The distinctive Palacio de Bellas Artes is at the bottom left. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Entry Hall of the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
The main entrance foyer and ticket box office. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Art Nouveau Tiled Dome of the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
Statues on top of the main dome of the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. At top is a Mexican eagle. Underneath that is a series of figures representing the dramatic arts. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Art Deco Interior of the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Murals in the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
A segment of a 1934-35 mural painting by Jose Clemente Orozco titled “Catharsis” (Katharsis). Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Murals in the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Murals in the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
“New Democracy” (1944) by David Alfaro Siqueiros. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Torre Latinoamericana
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Tiled Dome of Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel
Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel

What to Know Before You Go

The park area around the building is open 24 hours. To enter the building you’ll need to pass through a security checkpoint. You’ll then be in the main entrance hall, which is where the box office counters are, along with an up-scale restaurant and large bookstore focusing on art and performance.

To get up to the exhibits on the upper floors you’ll need a museum ticket. It’s open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 5:30pm. A single adult ticket costs 62 pesos. There are various categories for free entry, including kids under 13, seniors over 60, students with ID, etc. If you want to take photos or video you’ll need to pay a supplement of 30 pesos.

The official website is here.

It’s located six blocks west of the Zocalo, on the end of Alameda Central park.

Map

David Coleman / Photographer

David Coleman

I'm a freelance travel photographer based in Washington DC. Seven continents, up mountains, underwater, and a bunch of places in between. My images have appeared in numerous publications, and you can check out some of my gear reviews and tips here. More »