“Italiano” theater from the end of the 19th century, according to a plan by architect João Marques Sardinha. It is a sober building, with some neoclassical elements, where the vaulted ceiling stands out with a beautiful fresco painting by João Baptista Rio. It also has the original backdrop, designed by the Italian set designer Manini and executed by Hercole Lambertini.

Teatro Sá de Miranda was inaugurated on April 29, 1885. Its construction was due to the efforts of a group of personalities from Viana who formed, in 1879, the Companhia Fomentadora Vianense with the aim of building a civilizing building. It is an Italian-style theater designed by José Geraldo da Silva Sardinha with a horseshoe-shaped audience and three rows of boxes, with a capacity of 400 seats. The Mouth Cloth was designed by Luigi Manini and painted by Hercole Labertini, scenographers from Teatro S. Carlos and the ceiling, an image of the sky in trompe l´oeil, with portraits of playwrights, was painted by João Baptista do Rio. This Theatre, a true ex-libris of Viennese and Alto Minho culture, has hosted the most important Music, Theatre, Opera, Dance and Cinema shows in the region. Thus, Teatro Municipal Sá de Miranda entered the year 2000, renewing and expanding its fundamental role in the cultural life of Viana. The City Council acquired the building in 1985, at a time when its degradation was accentuated. Since then, it has carried out improvement works, first, in 1993, providing safety and comfort to the public and, in a second phase, equipping the stage box with the most modern scenic equipment, which allow the most demanding shows to be staged.

Sources: http://www.portoenorte.pt/pt/o-que-fazer/teatro-municipal-sa-de-miranda/; https://www.cm-viana-castelo.pt/viver/cultura/espacos-culturais/teatro-municipal/