Jose de Alencar Theater

Just to the west of Fortaleza’s Central Market sits the early 20th-century Art Nouveau-style Jose de Alencar Theater. Construction on the theater began in 1904, but it wasn’t until June of 1910 that it officially opened, named after Fortaleza-born novelist and dramatist Jose de Alencar. 
Besides the 800-seat concert hall, the theater also includes a theater garden designed by Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, an outdoor state and a small annex with another 90-seat theater. 
Even after a century, the Jose de Alencar Theater remains at the cultural center of Fortaleza, with regular performances and artistic activities. So important is the theater to the city of Fortaleza that it was featured on the official poster promoting Fortaleza as a venue for the 2014 World Cup.

Practical Info

While the theater’s facade is certainly colorful and ornate, the interior, with its frescoes and decorative wrought iron, is well worth a look as well.