Teatro Sauto

About this place

The Teatro Sauto is a neoclassical theatre in the city of Matanzas on Cuba's north coast. It opened in 1863, was declared a National Monument in 1978, and stands less than a kilometre from the city centre in a straight line. It opened as the Teatro Esteban, after the civil governor of Matanzas at the time, and soon took the name of Ambrosio de la Concepción Sauto, a patron of the arts who contributed much to its construction. Being close to Havana, it drew great performers, among them the French actress Sarah Bernhardt in 1887, the Russian dancer Anna Pavlova and the opera singer Enrico Caruso. The U-shaped auditorium seats 775, is almost entirely panelled in wood and has three balconies, and its floor can be raised to turn the hall into a ballroom. Paintings of the muses cover the ceiling, and two rivers run beneath the building. The theatre was closed for renovation from 2010 to 2018. It is considered the most elegant of Cuba's 19th-century theatres and a symbol of the city. Performances are ticketed, and daytime visits to the hall may be possible. The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to Cuba because of fuel, power and water shortages, so read the current advice before you plan.