Category: Culture and Entertainment > Theatre
District: Castelo Branco > Castelo Branco > Castelo Branco > Centro
The Cine-Teatro Avenida is located in the heart of Castelo Branco, a central position that strikingly integrates it into the urban fabric. It is strategically situated on a corner, between Campo da Pátria and Avenida do Marechal Carmona, contributing to the vitality of this area of the city.
Its presence defines a significant part of the new urban center, demonstrating remarkable architectural integration into the city's fabric.
The Cine-Teatro Avenida was designed by architects Raul César Caldeira and Albertino Crujeiro Galvão Roxo, with its construction taking place between April 1950 and September 1954. The official inauguration, on October 2, 1954, marked a significant cultural moment, featuring the presence of the Companhia do Teatro Nacional de D. Maria II, which presented prominent plays such as "Nobel Prize" and "Cardinals' Supper". Among the actors present were figures like Amélia Rey Colaço and the Castelo Branco natives Robles Monteiro and Raul de Carvalho.
A few days later, on October 4, the venue opened its doors to cinema. However, in July 1986, a fire affected the building. Subsequently, it underwent a profound renovation, reborn with a renewed appearance that reconciles modernity with the preservation of original elements, maintaining its identity as a cultural hub in Castelo Branco.
The Cine-Teatro Avenida is a remarkable example of 20th-century architecture, with a distinctly Modern style that reflects the evolution in the use of new construction materials. Its presence asserts itself in the urban landscape through the accentuated verticality of its corner facades, characterized by a succession of large windows and balconies that establish a harmonious connection between the different planes of the building.
The granite details on the exterior, complemented by the wood paneling inside, are an expressive reference to the region's natural materials. After its restoration, the space was adapted to host a wide range of events, featuring a main hall that allows for multiple configurations. Of note is the creation of a versatile multipurpose hall on the lower floor, ideal for exhibitions, where an old noria was preserved and highlighted. This unique element lends a distinctive and charismatic atmosphere to the venue, inviting the discovery of a trace of the past in the heart of a contemporary cultural space.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.823644423077, -7.489905
Coordinates DMS: 39°49'25.1"N 07°29'23.7"W