Description of the attraction
Teatro Sant Carlos is an opera house in Lisbon, which opened in July 1793. The Teatro Sant Carlos was built by order of Queen Mary I on the site of the former Tejo opera house, which was destroyed during the Lisbon earthquake in 1755. The theater is located in Chiado, the historic center of Lisbon, which is also the oldest district in the city.
The theater was built with funds from a group of Lisbon merchants in a fairly short period of time - six months. The project was handled by the Portuguese architect Jose da Costa e Silva. The architecture of the building combines elements of neoclassicism and rococo style. Jose da Costa e Silva studied in Italy, therefore, during the construction and design of the San Carlos Theater (namely, the interior, exterior decoration and facade), he borrowed some architectural details from Italian theaters: the Naples theater of San Carlo and Milan's La Scala. The main facade of the theater is decorated with a decorative clock and the national emblem of Portugal. The entrance to the theater is a portico with three arches.
The main hall of the theater has an elliptical shape and can accommodate about 1200 people, the boxes are located in five tiers. The royal box was decorated by the Italian architect Giovanni Appianni, and it amazes the imagination with its luxurious appearance. The ceiling was painted by Manuel da Costa, and the stage was designed by Cyrilo Volkmar Machada.
The theater was named after Princess Charlotte of Spain, who came to Portugal in 1790 to marry the future king, Prince Juan.
During the civil war (1828-1834) in Portugal, the theater was closed. The theater reopened in 1850 and some work was done inside the building. The theater was once again closed for restoration from 1935 to 1940. In 1970, a permanent troupe appeared in the theater, and in 1993 a Portuguese symphony orchestra was created at the theater.
