Concha Acústica de Ponce facts for kids
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Concha Acústica de Ponce, seen from the seating area
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| Former names | Teatro del Parque de la Abolicion |
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| Address | Marina and Salud Streets |
| Location | Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Coordinates | 18°00′22.7874″N 66°36′45.7914″W / 18.006329833°N 66.612719833°W |
| Owner | Municipality of Ponce |
| Type | Amphitheatre |
| Genre(s) | musical, performing arts, cultural |
| Seating type | Concrete benches; lawn area |
| Capacity | 2,000 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1956 |
| Opened | 1956 |
| Website | |
| www.visitponce.com | |
The Concha Acústica de Ponce (which means Ponce Acoustic Shell in English) is a cool outdoor stage and seating area in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It's like a big open-air theater! The city of Ponce owns and takes care of it. You can find it inside the Parque de la Abolición (Abolition Park). This special place is mostly used for concerts, plays, and other cultural events. It's open on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Concha Acústica you see today was designed in 1956. This design also included the nearby Monumento a la abolición de la esclavitud, a monument celebrating the end of slavery.
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What is the Concha Acústica de Ponce?
This outdoor theater is located on Avenida Hostos. It's right where Salud Street and Marina Street meet. It sits just north of the tall obelisk that remembers the end of slavery. The Concha Acústica, the obelisk, and the park's grassy areas make up a cool triangular city block.
How many people can the Concha Acústica hold?
The amphitheater is quite large and can seat up to 2,000 people. The audience sits on long concrete benches. These benches can hold many people at once.
What special features does the stage have?
The stage has two marble sides. On these sides, you'll find six special relief sculptures. These sculptures honor six famous musicians from Ponce. There are three sculptures on each side. On the left, you'll see Juan Morel Campos, Manuel G. Tavarez, and Arístides Chavier. On the right, there are sculptures of Antonio Paoli, Julio C. Arteaga, and Juan Ríos Ovalle.
History of the Concha Acústica
The area where the Concha Acústica stands has an interesting history. In 1874, a year after slavery was ended in Puerto Rico, some citizens built a small monument. This monument was to remember that important event.
How did the park get started?
In 1880, a few important people, including Olimpio Otero, Juan Mayoral Barnés, and Román Baldorioty de Castro, worked to create a park. They wanted a park specifically to remember the abolition of slavery in Puerto Rico. Juan Mayoral Barnés brought the idea to the Ponce city leaders on March 14, 1880. Everyone agreed, and the idea was approved by the government.
When was the Concha Acústica built?
At first, the triangular area was just a peaceful park. It had green lawns, flowers, and shady trees. This park was built in the 1890s. The Concha Acústica itself was built much later, in 1956. This happened when Andrés Grillasca Salas was the mayor of Ponce. The architect who designed this structure was Francisco Porrata Doria, who was from Ponce.
What is the Concha Acústica used for today?
The Concha Acústica has been used for many different events over the years. It's a popular spot for performances. For example, the Ponce Municipal Band often performs there. It has also hosted the Ponce Jazz Festival. It's a great place for the community to enjoy music and cultural events outdoors.
