Teatro Guimera (Guimera Theatre), Santa Cruz de Tenerife

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Teatro Guimera (Guimera Theatre), Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Teatro Guimera (Guimera Theatre), Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The Guimerá Theatre, the oldest in the Canary Islands, first opened in January 1851 and was built on the site of a former Dominican convent that had been dismantled during the Mendizábal confiscations. Designed by the Canarian architect Manuel de Oraá, its neoclassical-romantic façade is topped with the crest of Queen Isabel II.

Inside, you’ll find a sumptuous auditorium famously nicknamed “The Chocolate Box” thanks to its gilded moldings, plush velvets, frescoed ceilings, and sweeping balconied seating—drawing comparisons to The Royal Theatre. Over the years, successive renovations—in 1911, the late 20th century, and again in 2010—have modernized its facilities while preserving its historic charm. The theatre spans several performance spaces, including the main hall (roughly 800–900 seats) and the flexible “Guimerá Space” annex.

Named in 1923 for beloved native playwright Ángel Guimerá, whose works like Terra baixa and María Rosa helped transform Catalan theatre, the venue stands as a testament to Tenerife’s literary heritage. Today, it hosts theatre, cinema, concerts, dance, comedies, zarzuelas, and longstanding fixtures of the local cultural scene—including events linked to the International Canary Music Festival and the city’s Carnival.

A stroll around the plaza reveals public art and tributes: a bronze statue of Ángel Guimerá and the “Per Adriano” sculpture by Igor Mitoraj, representing the duality of tragedy and comedy.

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Teatro Guimera (Guimera Theatre) on Map

Sight Name: Teatro Guimera (Guimera Theatre)
Sight Location: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain (See walking tours in Santa Cruz de Tenerife)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

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