One stage.
So many stories.
History of the Coliseu
A dome
over Lisbon.
Opened on 14 August 1890, the Coliseu dos Recreios made its mark on Portuguese architecture by introducing a new metal structure, crowned by its impressive iron dome.
Imported from Germany and designed by the engineers Goulard and Manuel Garcia Júnior, the structure weighs more than 100 tonnes and measures 48.68 metres in diameter. It had to be hoisted with powerful cranes and an ingenious mechanism, at a speed of 2 metres per hour.
The work was only completed 26 hours after it began.
The circus
takes the stage.
The first circus show at the Coliseu dos Recreios took place on 18 October 1890. Before a packed house, an Equestrian and Acrobatic Company made its debut, first presenting Awata (a Japanese juggler), Kitchee (also Japanese, who performed on dry bamboo), the Christian family (acrobats), Virgínia Aragón (tightrope walker), Mlle. Jany (haute école riding), an athlete named Fernandez (horizontal bar), Hagenbeck (with trained elephants) and clowns.