Coliseo of Havana

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El Coliseo of Havana
General information
Type	Theatre
Town or city	Havana
Country	Cuba
Coordinates	23°08′02″N 82°20′52″W / 23.1338499°N 82.3477622°W / 23.1338499; -82.3477622
Opened	1775
Technical details
Structural system	Load bearing
Material	Masonry, wood
Grounds	La Alameda de Paula, Havana
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Antonio Fernández de Trebejos y Zaldívar
Known for	First Havana theatre

The Coliseo of Havana was the first theatre built in Havana, constructed on January 20, 1775. It was built near the Alameda de Paula between Calles Acosta, Oficios, and Luz, in Old Havana.^[1]

The theatre was the site of the first ever opera performed in Havana. The opera was Didone abbandonata, a work that featured a libretto by Pietro Metastasio.^[1]

The building had 4 stories of box seating, it contained seating on the ground floor, a stage, and services.^[1]

Coliseum was in poor condition and closed in 1788. A repair was carried out on it and, later, in 1803, it reopened its doors under the name El Principal. The theatre continued popularity until it was heavily damaged by a cyclone in 1846. However, there was a general repair project in 1847. In an 1853 map of Havana, the 'Teatro Principal' is shown as "destruído".^[1]

• Archive of Historic Havana

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