There’s a certain romanticism and mystery to abandoned buildings, but even among them, shuttered theatres have a very special allure. This building in Portugal’s Portalegre dates from the 19th century and still has its ornately frescoed ceilings and ticket booths intact.

The historic landmark was conceived by José de Sousa Larcher and heavily influenced by the D. Maria II National Theater in Lisbon, inaugurated in 1846, which ushered in a popular construction model for theatres across Portugal.

Theatre 1854 is the sixth oldest theatre still standing in Portugal, listing agents WGP Advisors (Wise Guys Property Advisors), and as such, the 2,000 sq m theatre has special provenance, not least for its frescoed auditorium ceiling painted by artist Benvindo Ceia and carpentry and furniture by José Maria dos Santos.

It’s asking €400,000 and is classified as a building of municipal interest, meaning its future restoration, conversion, or adaptation would be subject to planning consent. It occupies a prominent lot with a façade on Largo do Visconde de Cidrais, with much of the three-storey structure’s true scale hidden by the neighbouring church.

Peek inside this magical building.

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