City Theater

The Municipal Theatre, in Puebla

The Municipal Theatre of Puebla, or Teatro Principal, is one of the oldest theatres of the Americas. The Puebla audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this magnificent eighteenth-century building, a witness of the cultural life of the town since the colonial era.

One of the oldest theatres of the Americas

This magnificent building is the Municipal Theatre of Puebla, the Teatro Principal, one of the oldest theatres of the American continent. It is reported that it was built in the eighteenth century, at a time when the town, prosperous and refined, was endowing itself with places of entertainment and culture worthy of its rank. The theatre allowed the inhabitants to attend plays, comedies and shows, in an Italian-style hall adorned with balconies and boxes. Over its long history, the building knew fires and reconstructions, but it continued to host the theatrical and cultural life of Puebla through the centuries, and remains today in activity. Its antiquity makes it a precious witness of the history of the performing arts in America, and its architecture illustrates the taste and the refinement of colonial society. A witness of the cultural life of the town, the Municipal Theatre of Puebla is a fine stop of the discovery of the town.

What to see

You admire one of the oldest theatres of the American continent, the Teatro Principal, built in the eighteenth century when the prosperous town was endowing itself with places of culture, with its Italian-style hall adorned with balconies and boxes, which knew fires and reconstructions and still hosts the theatrical life of Puebla. The Municipal Theatre is a witness of the cultural life of Puebla. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Municipal Theatre lies in the heart of the historic centre of Puebla, reachable on foot. You admire its façade from the street; the shows and the visits follow their own programme and hours, which vary. It is best to check the agenda before coming.

What is the Municipal Theatre of Puebla?

The Teatro Principal, one of the oldest theatres of the American continent, built in the eighteenth century when the prosperous town was endowing itself with places of culture; with its Italian-style hall adorned with balconies and boxes, it knew fires and reconstructions and still hosts the theatrical life of Puebla.

Where is the Municipal Theatre of Puebla?

In the heart of the historic centre of Puebla, in Mexico.