Completed in 1934, the Palacio de Bellas Artes is the result of having two different architects, Adamo Boari who designed the initial Neoclassical exterior in 1904, and Federico Mariscal who took on the Art Deco interior almost 30 years later after construction had been halted by the Mexican Revolution.

Boari favoured the Neoclassical style with touches of Arte Nouveau.This is about as Neoclassical as you can get, and being Italian the architect Boari favoured Carrara marble for the exterior. Mariscal’s Art Deco style is everywhere in the interior, even the ticket office.The domed ceiling in the interior of the Bellas Artes building in Mexico City. The long-nosed Mayan rain deity Chaac gets an Art Deco makeover. An Art Deco light fixture.The black marble stairway up to the second level.There are murals by many of Mexico’s greatest muralists on an upper floor. Entry is free if you’re over 60 and have photo ID proving this. (Maybe also for students with appropriate ID.)

A detail from a mural by Orozco.  A mural by the prolific Diego Rivera. 
A Siqueiros mural called “New Democracy” painted in 1944. The Bellas Artes also has regular art exhibits. When we were there it was Chucho Reyes and Híbridos. There is also a theatre which has Ballet Folclórico performance three times weekly along with other musical and theatrical performances.

More of the Lens-Artists Challenge: Architecture.