Named "Amazonia Theatres", Teatro Amazonas, in Manaus, Amazonas, and Theatro da Paz, in Belém, Pará, in north Brazil, have been listed as new Unesco World Heritage Sites. The two emblematic historic buildings fall under the category of Cultural Sites, increasing the country's number to 26 properties inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Built in the late 19th century, the two theatres are monumental expressions of the period when the rubber boom transformed the Amazon into one of the most prosperous regions in South America. Together, the two buildings form a unique architectural ensemble in the world: structures decorated with references to the region's fauna, flora, and culture, which remain fully active more than a century after their inauguration.

Inaugurated on December 31, 1896, Teatro Amazonas is a recognised symbol of Manaus. Its construction coincided with the height of the rubber boom, resulting in a work that surprises both by its scale and the refinement of its materials.

Almost everything was imported from Europe: the steel walls came from Glasgow, Scotland; the Carrara marble for the staircases, statues, and columns from Italy; the 198 chandeliers were also Italian. The famous dome, which dominates the horizon of Manaus's historic centre, is covered with 36,000 ceramic tiles in the colours of the Brazilian flag, manufactured in Alsace, France. The architectural style is Renaissance with eclectic details, and the contrast between European monumentality and the exuberance of the surrounding rainforest gives the building a singular atmosphere, hard to find in any other city in the world. Inside, the auditorium seats 684 people divided between the orchestra floor and three tiers of boxes.

Founded on February 15, 1878, Theatro da Paz was the first large-scale venue built in the Amazon, erected at a time when Belém was called "The Rubber Capital" and concentrated some of the greatest wealth on the South American continent. The architectural project was inspired by Teatro Alla Scala in Milan, resulting in a building of grand proportions.