The outside of Guanajuato’s Teatro Juarez (Juarez Theater) blew us away.
We had foolishly decided to walk from our hotel – the lovely Quinta Las Acacias – to the historical center in Guanajuato, a gem of a colonial city in Mexico.
Some TripAdvisor reviews noted it was only a 20-minute walk.
But we didn’t know our way around, so it took us over an hour. (Mind you, it was a pleasant walk.)
Teatro Juarez
And then, as we entered the pedestrian-only historical zone and turned a corner, there it was!
Teatro Juarez – the ornate Guanajuato theater we’d read about and couldn’t wait to see.
Dating back to 1873, it’s decorated on the outside with Greek columns and lion sculptures.
On top, the roof is crowned with eight bronze statues of the Greek mythological muses.
Inside the Juarez Theater is also worth a look
The carpet is worn from constant use (people still watch performances in the theater). And the seating seems a bit crammed-in.
But the red-and-gold interior (plush velvet curtains, red leather covered chairs) certainly reflects the lavish tastes of Mexican dictator Porfirio Diaz, who inaugurated the theater.
What else to do in Guanajuato? Check out the really cool art at the Diego Rivera Museum
Back outside, we joined the university students and others (locals and visitors alike) sitting on the wide expanse of steps leading up to the Juarez Theater.
Perched there, we basked in the sunshine and the glorious lookout over the Jardin Union – the triangular plaza in Guanajuato’s center, fringed by gnarled ancient laurel trees, their deep-green crowns trimmed square to shade pedestrians on the sidewalk just below.
Gazing at the outdoor cafes and shops that ring the plaza and the bustle of people walking past, we felt as though we’d been transported to the Spanish Steps in Rome.
Only the Spanish spoken all around us reminded us that we were in Mexico. In Guanajuato. At the Teatro Juarez.
Where to stay in Guanajuato? Read our review of Quinta Las Acacias (which we loved)
Visiting the Teatro Juarez, Guanajuato
Hours: The theater is only open to visitors when no performances are scheduled. Opening hours are 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 6pm, Tues-Sun (closed Mondays).
Admission: A song! Okay, seriously, about 30 pesos ($2.50 USD) to peek inside. If you get tickets to a show, you might only pay some 100 pesos.
More information: If you can read Spanish, here’s the website.
Experience more of Mexico!
Read our posts on:
San Miguel de Allende | From riding a vintage trolley through fairytale streets to visiting a whimsical toy museum, there are many wonderful things to do in San Miguel de Allende.
Zihuatanejo | Want a great beach vacay? See the best beaches in Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa.
Mexico City | Fabulous museums. Gorgeous art. A rich historical center. There are oodles of cultural activities in Mexico City to enjoy.
Puerto Vallarta | Where to stay? You’ll love these beautiful boutique hotels in Puerto Vallarta.
Cabo San Lucas | Check out our ultimate Los Cabos travel guide. It’s packed with info on where to play, stay and eat.
Photo credits: © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase
About the authors:
Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George are the owners and founders of Sand In My Suitcase. Between them, they’ve traveled to all 7 continents.
Find destination guides, global food-and-wine stories, articles on cultural explorations and soft adventure trips, luxury hotel reviews, insanely useful travel tips and more!
Corinne
Monday 31st of March 2014
Stunning! I would love to visit the theater...gorgeous.
Heather - the kiwi travel writer
Wednesday 26th of March 2014
great piece about a fab building .. my bucket list just added another place to it as we would love to go there
Josie
Wednesday 26th of March 2014
Hi Janice and George, When an article focuses on one facet, the concentrated look allows us to really see and enjoy. Thank you for doing just that! Guanajuato and the Juarez Theater look lovely. And I love that you shared the photo of Irene in the comments! Sweet! Josie
Patti Morrow
Tuesday 25th of March 2014
Wow, what an absolutely stunning theater! I love the architecture and décor inside. I prefer performances in these magnificent old gems over the new, aesthetically-cold convention centers any day!
Michele Peterson
Tuesday 25th of March 2014
Guanajuato is such a beautiful city. It's great to see its beauty being recognized and the Jardin Union square looks very lush in your photo. Nice shot of Irene in the Alley of the Kiss - I'm assuming that's Jerry with her and not the tour guide :-)