Baralt Theatre

A major Venezuelan cultural institution, the theatre received a National Monument designation in 1981, recognizing its location as the site of the first film screenings in the country and as a longstanding part of the historic center of Maracaibo.

Don Miguel often leased his land at the intersection of Urdaneta and Venezuela streets, where the theatre still stands, for performances; a temporary stage was constructed at the site before he donated it to the city.

[2] The construction project soon received help from the workers' union and, on 5 December 1845, from the state when 3,000 pesos were allotted to "build a more permanent structure within the property of Don Miguel".

[3] The President of the State of Zulia, Rafael Parra, signed off on the demolition and rebuild of the theatre on 28 July 1877; he laid the first stone of the new building in a ceremony on 7 October 1877.

In the prose category, three writers entered, but the judges did not like any of the plays and simply drew a winner at random (Sufrir por culpas ajenas by Eduardo Gallegos Celis); the four verse entries were better received, with a first and second prize awarded.

[1] Externally, the facade has design features which have been described as Art Nouveau by the Venezuelan heritage board, including the balustrades and large arches in relief with detailing in iron above the entrance.

[1] Internally, there are extensive paintings and frescoes across the walls, ceilings and columns in an art deco style by Antonio Angulo, an artist from Zulia, who also designed light fixtures.

[7] Later, in 1912, a film was recorded in the theatre by Alciro Ferrebús Rincón and José García Rebot, titled Maracaibo en el teatro Baralt.