São João National Theatre
| São João Theatre (Teatro São João) | |
| São João National Theatre, Prince's Theatre | |
| Theater (Teatro) | |
 The common oblique view of the national theatre at the corner of Praça da Batalha and Rua de Augusto Rosa
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| Official name: Teatro São João | |
| Named for: John VI of Portugal | |
| Country |  Portugal |
|---|---|
| Region | Norte |
| Subregion | Greater Porto |
| District | Porto |
| Municipality | Porto |
| Location | Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau e Vitória |
| - coordinates | 41°8′41″N 8°36′26.5″W / 41.14472°N 8.607361°WCoordinates: 41°8′41″N 8°36′26.5″W / 41.14472°N 8.607361°W |
| Architect | José Marques da Silva, João Carreira |
| Style | Neoclassical |
| Materials | Wood, Marble, Iron, Granite |
| Owner | Câmara Municipal do Porto |
| For public | Public |
| Easiest access | Praça da Batalha, Rua de Augusto Rosa |
| Management | Instituto Gestão do Patrimonio Arquitectónico e Arqueológico |
| Operator | Câmara Municipal do Porto |
| Status |
National Monument Monumento Nacional |
| Listing | Decree 16/2012, Diário da Repúblic, Série 1, 132 (10 July 2012) |
The São João Theatre (Portuguese: Teatro São João), commonly referred to as the São João National Theatre is a Portuguese theatre and concert venue in civil parish of Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau e Vitória, in the municipality of Porto, in northern Portugal.
The primitive theatre was constructed at the end of the 18th century (1796) by Italian Vicente Mazzoneschi, and inaugurated on 13 May 1798, as the Teatro do Príncipe (Prince's Theatre). It was named in honour of the prince-regent John VI, who later became King. The construction firm of Francisco de Almada Mendonça was charged with the project, and produced a four-story building with its principal facade decorated with the royal coat-of-arms under an inscription.
But, on 11 April 1908, there was a fire, destroying the theatre interior, and a new structure was built on its former site. Before its destruction, the theatre had a markedly horseshoe-shaped plan. Its rounded ceiling was painted by Joaquim Rafael and had in 1856 received a new painting by Paulo Pizzi. The building included four rows of booths, with the booth for the royal family located centrally on the second floor. The large atrium, and the corridors large supported by access from large staircases. Along the second floor was a magnificent concert hall. Generally, the theatre had excellent acoustics. The stage wall was painted by Sequeira, but was later replaced in 1825 by paintings contracted to the Spaniard João Rodrigues, and later, Palucci. Until 1838, the theatre was lit by tallow candles, and later by similar candles lit by oil.
On 11 April 1908, the Civil Governor nominated a commission to promote the construction of a new theatre.
A competition opened on October 8, presided by engineer Basílio Alberto de Sousa Pinto, Xavier Esteves, Casimiro Jerónimo de Faria, architect José Marques da Silva and the director of public works, Isidro de Campos, whom immediately denounced the conditions of the tender. A new competition was announced a week later, based on slight alterations to the original provisions. Preliminary project proposals were accepted on 22 February 1910. It was Marques da Silva who obtained the first prize and João de Moura Coutinho de Almeida d'Eça, the runner-up. Before the competition was held, the winning project was designated to Moura Coutinho, then director of the Direcção das Obras Públicas (Directorate of Public Works) in Braga. The winning project was approved on 6 May, during a municipal session, with the work awarded to the company Soconstroi.
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