ecife´s Santa Isabel Theatre was designed by the French engineer Louis Léger Vauthier in accordance with the principles of neoclassicism, the ´official´ style of public buildings of its age. It burnt down 19 years after inauguration.
Only the lateral walls survived; reconstruction was carried out under the supervision of José Tibúrcio Pereira de Magalhães, to whom the original architect acted as consultant. To avoid further fires, metal structures where used to support boxes, galleries and the roof.
The gardens, originally behind railings, where later made part of the present Praça da República; this in no way diminishes the impact of the building, further distinguished by the imperial palms with frame its landscape.
The façade projects at the centre into a ground-floor loggia. The arches are flanked by tuscan columns at ground-floor level, and doric columns on the first floor; the entablature is in each case in keeping.