The U.N. cultural agency UNESCO on Monday added two theaters in the Brazilian Amazon to its World Heritage List.
The Amazonia Theaters comprise Theatro da Paz in Belem, Para state and Teatro Amazonas in Manaus, Amazonas state. Both were built in the late 19th century at the height of the rubber boom and combine European architectural influences with local materials and symbols.
UNESCO said the theaters were designed as "symbols of political and urban ambition.” Theatro da Paz, inaugurated in 1878, underscored Belem’s role as a key port city, while Teatro Amazonas, inaugurated in 1896, reflected the rapid urban development of Manaus during the rubber boom.
The auditorium of the Amazonas Theater is seen in Manaus, Amazonas state, northern Brazil, July 2, 2026. (AFP Photo)
Brazil said it nominated the two theaters jointly because they represented the same historical period and embodied a shared project to modernize and integrate the Amazon region into global commercial and cultural circuits.
