Built on a railway station
The theatre stands where Argentina's first railway station, Estación del Parque, once was. The first Teatro Colón was on a different site, on Plaza de Mayo, from 1857 to 1888.
Urban Tales › Buenos Aires › Teatro Colón
Teatro Colón: twenty years to build
Opened on 25 May 1908 with Verdi's Aida after twenty years of building, the Teatro Colón is one of the great opera houses of the world, admired above all for its acoustics.
Opened25 May 1908
First operaVerdi's Aida
Building tookabout 20 years
Restored2006–2010
Hear the Teatro Colón story, in the app's voice
A short preview. The full story plays on its own when you walk up to it with Urban Tales.
Three stories most visitors miss
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The sound
Acoustic experts often rank its main hall among the best in the world for opera. Singers like Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti and conductors like Arturo Toscanini performed here.
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A long restoration
By the 2000s the building needed serious work. It closed in 2006 and reopened in May 2010, restored in time for Argentina's bicentennial.
TipIf you can't get a ticket for a performance, the guided tours run most days and show the main hall, the foyer and the stained glass. With Urban Tales running, the theatre's story plays as you reach the façade.
Nearby landmarks
Teatro Colón: common questions
When was the Teatro Colón built?
Construction took about twenty years. It opened on 25 May 1908 with Verdi's Aida.
Why is the Teatro Colón famous?
For its acoustics, often ranked among the best in the world for opera, and for more than a century of great singers, dancers and conductors.
Can you visit the Teatro Colón without a ticket?
Yes. Guided tours run most days; check the official site for times and languages.