Why go
Carrara white marble and its murals by Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and José Clemente Orozco. The Palacio has two museums: the Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Museo de la Arquitectura. Metro Bellas Artes is located alongside. Use The theatre is used for classical music, opera and dance, notably the Baile Folklórico .
What to look for
- Notice how Palacio de Bellas Artes relates to the surrounding streets and skyline.
- Look for surviving details that reveal the site's principal historical layer.
The full story
A distinctive feature of the theatre is its stained glass Tifany's curtain depicting a volcano and the valley of Mexico. It is the home of Mexico's National Symphony Orchestra, the Bellas Artes Orchestra, the Bellas Artes Chamber Orchestra, the National Dance Company, and the Bellas Artes Opera. The Palacio de Bellas Artes has been used as a funeral venue for artists of Mexican national importance such as Frida Kahlo in 1954 and María Félix in 2002. Rivera's Mural Rivera's Man at the Crossroads mural was originally painted for the Rockefeller Center in New York City. Rivera had finished ⅔ of the mural when the Rockefellers objected to an image of Vladimir Lenin in the mural. When Rivera refused to remove Lenin, his commission was cancelled and the mural was destroyed. Rivera repainted it a smaller scale at the Palacio in 1934 and renamed it Man, Controller of the Universe Alameda Central belongs to the layered story of the Valley of Mexico. Its architecture, landscape, collections, or civic role reflects changes.
Useful to know
- Allow enough time to see Palacio de Bellas Artes and its immediate setting without rushing.
- Check current official access information before entering any managed interior.
Your next visit
Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.
Outdoor visit · 30–45 min
World planning estimate; admission, opening, visit duration and access need checking.