PALACE OF FINE ARTS IN MEXICO CITY: FACTS AND PHOTOS

Palace of Fine Arts, also known as Palacio de Bellas Artes, is located at the center of Mexico City. Built in the early 1900’s, it was commissioned by President Porfirio Díaz and is known for its murals by famous Mexican artists, the National Museum of Architecture and the National Theater.

Architecture at Palace of Fine Arts

Thousands of tourists every day flock to the site to see the magnificent architecture. This majestic building is unbelievably stunning; I was humbled to witness such a powerful structure. Antonio Canova, a famous Italian sculptor created the beautiful angel on the top front of the Palace of Fine Arts.

One of the best views of the palace can be seen from the 8th floor, at a small balcony coffee shop, in the Sears department store. Sears is across the road facing the main entrance to the Palace of Fine Arts. You will have to get yourself a cup of coffee out of courtesy to the shop owner. You can also get a stunning view of the Palace of Fine Arts from Torre Latinoamericana.

Related: MEXICO CITY TRAVEL GUIDE: 55 Things to Do in Mexico City | Metropolitan City Cathedral – Facts & Photos

Inside Palace of Fine Arts

After years of deterioration, restoration work to the interior of the Palace of Fine Arts was completed by the Architect, Federico Mariscal in the 1930s. He modernized the style of the palace’s interior.

The main room

The main room at the Palace of Fine Arts is where shows, that have been seen by thousands of people from all over the world, are held. All sorts of shows happen here, including opera, recitals, dance, tributes and symphonic music; the hall can sit almost 1400 people.

The hall has a glass curtain, which has around one million pieces (2 cm each) of opalescent glass. The reason for the glass curtain was to protect the hall from fire. Before being sent to the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City, the glass curtain was assembled and displayed at Tiffany & Co. House in New York.

Other rooms

Manuel M. Ponce Hall has 245 seats and is mainly used for recitals, it has an intimate feel that gets people engaged.

The Sala Adamo Boari is a room at the Palace of Fine Arts with a capacity of 180 seats. It is mainly used for press conferences, reading cycles, presentations and architecture colloquia.

For a list of all events at Palace of Fine Arts click here.

Museum at Palace of Fine Arts

The museum at the Palace of Fine Arts was opened in 1934 under the name ‘Museum of Plastic Arts’. It was the first of its kind in Mexico City. The collection was largely made up of sixteenth-century pieces, as well as murals by famous Mexican artists such as Diego Rivera.

In 1947, the museum went through a significant change in the collection that it showcased. A wide panorama of Mexican art was included; as well as publications promoting national artistic wealth.

Today, the Museum of the Palace of Fine Arts exhibits 17 murals; all these murals are works of seven Mexican artists from 1928 to 1963. They also, every now and again display other artists’ work on a temporary basis.

Museum Entrance to View Collections

The museum is open from Monday to Sunday. To be able to use cameras or video equipment for the exhibition, you pay a small fee. Please note that you don’t have to pay if you are only taking pictures of the building and the other inside areas of the palace.

Free admission on all days for: teachers, students, employees of the Ministry of Culture and INBA and INAPAM. You must show a valid ID.

Opening Hours

The Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is closed on Mondays. The ticket office closes at 5:00 pm.

For more information about the Museum of the Palace of Fine Arts click here.

Useful Information of Palace of Fine Arts

Address: Palacio de Bellas Artes, Av. Juárez, Centro Histórico, Centro, 06050 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

Transportation: The nearest Metro station is Bellas Artes on the blue line. It is right outside the palace.

Website: Official Website

Please note that you can only enter the National Theater if you have an event ticket and only at the time the shows are starting. You are not allowed to tour the theater outside these events’ hours.