Teatro Colón

The Teatro Colón opened in 1908 after two decades of construction and three architects, and it has been ranked among the finest concert halls in the world ever since, praised by conductors and singers for acoustics that come from its horseshoe shape, its wood and plaster surfaces and its great dome. The interior is deliberately overwhelming: a marble entrance hall with stained glass, a golden hall modelled on Versailles, and an auditorium of seven levels in red and gold seating some 2,400 people, with a ceiling painted in the 1960s by Raúl Soldi. Guided tours run through the day in several languages and take in the halls, the auditorium and parts of the workshops, where sets, costumes, shoes and wigs are still made in house.

What you actually see

• The auditorium - seven tiers of red and gold beneath the painted dome.
• The Golden Hall - the mirrored, gilded reception room off the main staircase.
• The entrance hall - marble, stained glass and the grand staircase.
• The workshops - the in-house set, costume and scenery departments on tours.

When to go

The season runs roughly March to November; tours operate year-round but parts close during rehearsals. Booking tours online avoids queues. Performance tickets range from expensive stalls to very cheap standing places high up.

Honest expectations

Tours are busy and move quickly, and access depends on what is being rehearsed that day. The upper cheap seats have restricted views, though the sound is famously good everywhere. Photography rules vary by area.

Nearby

Avenida 9 de Julio and the Obelisco are steps away; the historic centre lies east.