Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica

In this blog post, we share how our decision to cut short a beach visit in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca led us to searching for things to do in San Jose and the amazing Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica aka National Theater of Costa Rica. Detailing its rich history, architectural splendors, ongoing restoration efforts, and our tour experience, this post provides a firsthand account of the shift from leisure to cultural exploration.

TheMobileRetiree.com is supported by its audience. We may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through links on our website. Thank you. Learn more>

How we ended up in San Jose with extra time on our hands

Initially our goal for our visit to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca was to investigate whether this idyllic coastal setting could potentially serve as our retirement spot. However, it didn’t take long for us to realize that a month of beachside relaxation wasn’t what we needed; our yearning for more cultural experiences and cooler temperatures prompted a change in plans. This shift led us to researching what to do in San Jose, where among other things, we explore the National Theater of Costa Rica.

The history of the National Theater

Construction started in 1890, initially funded by a tax on coffee exports, later shifting to a tax on imported goods, the building officially opened its doors in 1897. The National Theater boasts a rich history and incorporates a variety of influences in both its decoration and architecture.

In 1965 it was declared a National Monument. As the theater was originally built based on demands of the local population who wanted a replacement for the previous municipal theater – which had been destroyed by an earthquake – the entire history is one of essentially public ownership.

What we experienced on our tour of the National Theater of Costa Rica

As we stepped into the National Theater, every direction beckoned with noteworthy features. The intricate details, reminiscent of both baroque and rococo styles, and occasional hints of art deco, immediately caught our attention. To ensure a comprehensive understanding, let’s break down the architectural and artistic details that left us in awe.

The theater’s construction involved significant contributions from Italy, from sculptures to artists. The ceiling artwork, akin to the grandeur of the Sistine Chapel, adorned the space. Even the second-floor seating area surprised us with cameos painted on the ceilings, adding an unexpected layer of detail. The entire space was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, from the sculpted columns to the impressive tilework on the floors. No surface was left undecorated, making every corner a visual delight.

The standing lighting fixtures in common areas showcase unique designs, each a testament to intricate detailing featuring cherubs, angels, floral motifs, and the occasional dolphins.

The auditorium  of the National Theatre owes its style to the 19th century opera house.

The ceiling displays a masterpiece by the Italian painter Roberto Fontana, made in 1897. A huge chandelier hangs from the center. We had the rare opportunity to see the chandelier being lowered so that the staff could clean and replace the light bulbs.

The main floor in front of the stage, with its traditional sloping design and seating, revealed a surprising feature: the entire floor, once all the seating was removed and stored, could be raised to stage level in about twenty minutes, with the help of a huge mechanism in the basement, and powered entirely by humans. It provides the theater with the adaptability to host a wide range of productions, from traditional plays to concerts and ballets, enhancing the overall versatility of the space. The mechanism to allow this is pretty spectacular on its own and is still in use to this day.

Currently undergoing an intensive restoration, the theater’s commitment to preserving its history is evident. We were given a peek into the restoration on the third floor where restoration experts are removing the plaster decorations from the walls, painstakingly cleaning the pieces and applying new gold leaf before the decorations are returned to their rightful place.

The third floor also houses the most blatant reminders of how much differently the upper class was treated in years past. Ornate and plush couches for relaxing during intermission as well as dedicated smoking rooms – one for the gentlemen and one for the ladies, thank you very much – live beneath an exquisitely painted ceiling and are overseen by impressive sculptures.

Guided Tours of the National Theater

The theater offers tours on a regular schedule in either Spanish or English. The schedules vary depending on holidays and other factors but they were running 7 days a week from 9am to 4pm when we went. The times for English versus Spanish language tours are staggered and they are limited to 25 people per group. We arrived at about 9:45 and were prepared to wait a bit after getting our tickets (we had showed up at 1:45 the day before and the English language tours had sold out for the day). We got lucky and there were open spots on an English language tour at 10:15. Prices are set in colones (CRC3,500 for foreigners) and at the time we visited the exchange rate was around 514 CRC to 1 US Dollar; tickets for the two of us clocked at less than US$14.

Our guide was knowledgeable and thorough, we really enjoyed the experience a great deal. She gave us an amazing amount of information on the history of the theater as well as some insight on the various design elements. She also pointed out a lot of details we wouldn’t necessarily have noticed on our own.

Since we are both interested in art, architecture and history we felt that it was well worth the time and money as well as a good value.

Getting your Tour Tickets

So it’s not immediately clear where the ticket booth is located and it’s not in the most obvious location, in the lobby, but rather is located around to the left side of the building. Look for the ‘Boletaria’ sign as you approach the building. Once you have your ticket, you need to go to the lobby and check in for your tour. At the far right hand corner as you come in there is a wee little desk, you check-in and they give you a qr sticker to put on your chest. The gathering process is a little chaotic because it’s a big lobby with a lot of activity. Easier, perhaps, in our case because we spotted the obvious Americans and once we got involved in conversation more English speakers joined us so the group was pretty much gathered when the tour guide came to collect us.

For those with limited time

For those with limited time or interest in the actual interior of the theater, you can explore the impressive lobby and grounds for free. We suggest allocating around twenty minutes for a self-guided tour of the grounds and the lobby. The guided interior tour took about 45 minutes on top of the time we spent wandering on our own.

For a more comprehensive look at what you’ll see on the tour, check out our video of the experience on YouTube

In crafting our posts highlighting things to do in the destinations we visit, our primary aim it’s about kindling the spirit of exploration in our readers, rather than serving as an exhaustive list. We want to ignite the curiosity and wanderlust within individuals and inspire readers to step out of their comfort zones and immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of waiting to be discovered by those with an adventurous heart. Share with your friends!