Teatro Degollado is one of the best-preserved neoclassical theaters in Latin America and a true architectural gem that you shouldn’t miss during your visit to Guadalajara’s city downtown.
Construction began in 1856, and ten years later, the theater officially opened with a performance of Donizetti’s opera Lucia di Lammermoor, featuring the renowned Mexican soprano Ángela Peralta.
Its facade features a striking portico with a high-relief tympanum carved in travertine marble, inspired by “Apollo and the Muses.” This piece, created by Mexican sculptor Benito Castañeda, bears a golden inscription that reads: “May the sound of discord never reach here.”
The main hall seats approximately 867 people and was inspired by La Scala opera house in Milan, Italy. The ceiling showcases a mural representing the Fourth Canto of The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, painted by Jalisco-born artists Jacobo Gálvez, Gerardo Suárez, and Carlos Villaseñor.
Just behind the theater, you’ll find a fountain and a bronze sculptural ensemble by Jalisco artist Rafael Zamarripa. This installation commemorates the permanent founding of Guadalajara and features its key founders, including Cristóbal de Oñate, Miguel de Ibarra, and Beatriz Hernández.
From Tuesday to Friday, between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., the doors of Teatro Degollado are open to the public for those who wish to admire its stunning interior architecture up close.
Today, it serves as the official home of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra (OFJ), so if you get the chance, be sure to attend one of their concerts in this neoclassical masterpiece.
