Solís Theatre
Teatro Solís
Opened in 1856, this Uruguayan national theater is one of the oldest opera houses in South America, and visitors can join a tour or attend a ballet or symphony performance.
Teatro Solís opened in 1856 and is one of the oldest surviving theaters in South America. It is named after Juan Díaz de Solís, the Spanish navigator who was the first European to reach the Río de la Plata. Its neoclassical façade has eight Ionic columns. The main auditorium is a horseshoe-shaped Italian-style hall seating about 1,500, with red velvet seats, gilded boxes stacked in tiers and a huge crystal chandelier overhead. It underwent major restoration from 1998 to 2004. Now a municipal theater, it is home to the Montevideo Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Comedy Company, and hosts opera, ballet, symphony, theater and tango performances throughout the year at relatively affordable prices. Attending a performance is a good way to experience Uruguay's cultural life. Without a ticket, you can join guided tours held several times a day from Tuesday to Sunday. Tours last about 45 minutes, are mainly in Spanish with some English sessions, and cover the theater's history and its main auditorium, stage and boxes. The fee is modest, and times and prices should be confirmed on the theater's official website. It is at the southwest corner of Plaza Independencia and is an easy walk from the Palacio Salvo and the Old City pedestrian streets.
Opening hours
Tours several times daily Tue–Sun; open evenings on show days (check official website)
Nearby sights
- Museo Torres García
- Plaza Independencia
- Ciudad Vieja
- Museo Andes 1972
- Palacio Salvo
- Catedral Metropolitana de Montevideo
- Museo Gurvich
- Palacio Taranco