The Teatro Independecia (Independence Theater) is much more than the city’s main hub for performing arts. This building is also beloved by architecture students for its magnificent façade and stands as a memorial to the country’s war for independence from Spanish colonialists. Whether you come to admire its design or watch a performance, be sure to make this destination part of your Mendoza itinerary.
The theater opened in 1925 under the orders of Governor Carlos Washington Lencinas. Along with several other institutions, including the province’s first opera house, it was intended to advance the city’s cultural presence.
Admire the theater’s neoclassical architecture from the adjacent Independence Square. Its majestic façade comprises four Corinthian columns leading up from a green marble base to an ornate balustrade.
Take a tour with an English-speaking guide through the theater’s elaborate interior and learn more about its history. Be sure to ask the guide about the development of its performance halls, in particular its cinema installations. Film screenings began in 1944 with an inaugural viewing of Casablanca.
The best way to experience the theater is to watch a show. The Provincial Philharmonic Orchestra holds residency and performs regularly. Sit in one of the four balconies that curve around the auditorium and gaze down on the action. A beautifully ornate chandelier hangs from the ceiling.
Take advantage of the theater’s position at the center of Mendoza’s historic district. Walk through Independence Square, where the central fountain is beautifully lit up at night. Stroll through the banking district to the northeast and admire majestic 19th-century buildings. Find a bar along the busy streets of downtown Mendoza and enjoy a glass of Malbec with the locals.
The Teatro Independecia is located next to Independence Square in central Mendoza. Get there on foot from most areas of downtown or hire a cheap taxi. The theater is open daily. Obtain the event schedule and purchase tickets online or by phone.
