Costa Rica

Given the fact that Costa Rica devotes its greatest efforts to education and health, it comes as no surprise to know that the people may freely use any of the numerous libraries existing all over the country. The largest of all is the National Library, standing opposite the National Park in the capital. Its collection of books and documents, as well as microfilms, is one of the most complete of its kind. All educational institutions have their own library, ranging from the large University libraries to the small rural public libraries, as well as those possessed by secondary education schools. The Municipalities (cantonal governments) have their own public libraries, both in the capitals and in the other villages of the cantons. Mention should be made of the fact that over the past few years various national publishing houses have been created, the main one being the Costa Rica Publishing House, depending from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. This particular publishing house has published a great many books by good many authors and has thus made an extremely rich contribution to our libraries. It has also encouraged the tico the strive ever harder to improve his own cultural knowledge within the framework of healthy national pride.

This theater is devoted to the memory of the great Costa Rica tenor whose performances in the New York City Music Hall and the Scala in Milan (to mention only two of his world venues), showed the world the artistic potential of this Costa Rica personality. The theater is the forum for traditional culture in the country and is complemented by numerous theater halls, art galleries (both public and private) which offer permanent exhibitions of its collections to the people of Costa Rica and more particularly to the city dwellers.

Built in 1890 in the purest and the most classical Renaissance style, this temple of culture of Costa Rica is situated in the heart of the capital. Its stage has hosted most of the great theater companies of the world which have visited Latin America, as well as famous musicians, artists and classical music orchestras. A century after being built, the theater is still very carefully preserved. For this purpose, it has its own workshop of national stonemasons, some of whom are direct descendents of the original masons who built it. This pride of Costa Rica has been added to by the annexing of the Plaza de la Cultura (Culture square) with its own art galleries and cultural conference halls. Its broad modern style provides an attractive contrast to the Classical features of the National Theater.