Teatro La Perla, built in 1864, is one of the oldest operating theaters in the Caribbean and one of the finest examples of neoclassical architecture in Puerto Rico. The white columned facade, just a block from Plaza las Delicias, speaks to the ambitions of nineteenth-century Ponce, which modelled itself on the great cities of Europe and expected its cultural institutions to match. The interior, restored to something close to its original glory, seats nearly a thousand people.
The theater still programs live performances — drama, opera, dance, music — and attending a show here is the best way to experience the building in its intended state. Even without a ticket, the facade and lobby are accessible and worth a look. The building is named for Ponce's sobriquet, La Perla del Sur, and in its prime years it hosted every major touring act that passed through the Caribbean.