The Coliseu dos Recreios was inaugurated on August 14, 1890, with the operetta
Boccaccio by Franz von Suppé, a Croatian composer of the Romantic period. The
performance was attended by Infante Dom Afonso of Braganza, brother of King Carlos
I. The building, designed in the shape of a nonagon, features an iron dome with a 25
meter radius, manufactured in Germany.

From 1923 onward, Ricardo Covões revitalized the Coliseu dos Recreios, transforming
it into a venue with a broader cultural offering. Its program came to include revue shows,
skating, boxing matches, opera, theatre, ballet, circus performances, masked balls, and
many other events, all under a pricing policy aimed at making culture accessible to the
general public.
One of the decisive moments in its recent history occurred in 1994, the year it was
chosen as Lisbon’s premier performance venue. On February 26 of that year, a renewed
Coliseu was unveiled to the city as part of the “Lisboa 94” program.

The Coliseu dos Recreios has hosted major circus companies, grand Carnival
celebrations, and outstanding performances by artists such as Prince, Madonna,
conductor Georg Solti, Luciano Pavarotti, Cesária Évora, Bryan Adams, Amália
Rodrigues, Chico Buarque, Caetano Veloso, among many other distinguished names
who have honored this venue.

The Coliseu dos Recreios has always been a multifaceted performance space which,
over time, has successfully adapted to contemporary demands without losing its
historical essence. In addition to its iconic main hall, since 2025 the Coliseu has also
included a new venue, the Coliseu Club, dedicated to concerts and more intimate
performances, further enhancing the diversity of its programming.

Saiba mais em coliseulisboa.com

Agenda Coliseu: https://linktr.ee/coliseudosrecreios