What material clads the exterior of the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City?

The Palacio de Bellas Artes is clad partly in Italian marble, especially the white Carrara marble used on its facades.

The answer is accurate but simplifies a more varied material palette. The building's lower structure uses beige marble from Yautepec in Morelos, Mexico, while white marble from Buenavista de Cuéllar in Guerrero and Carrara in Italy was used for the facades. Carrara marble is prized for its bright color and fine grain, making it a natural choice for the palace's monumental exterior.

This mixture reflects the building's long, interrupted history. Italian architect Adamo Boari began the project in 1904, but soft soil, financial difficulties, and the Mexican Revolution halted construction. Work resumed in 1932 under Federico Mariscal, who completed the interior in an Art Deco style.

The palace opened in 1934 and is often remembered for its murals, including works by Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. A common mix-up is calling the whole building Art Deco: Art Nouveau and Neoclassical influences dominate the exterior, while Art Deco is strongest inside.