Teatre Metropol

Teatre Metropol is a historic theatre on Rambla Nova in Tarragona, built to a design by Josep Maria Jujol, a Catalan architect who worked closely with Antoni Gaudí. Its interior, shaped like a ship riding out the waves of life, has surprised visitors and locals alike for more than a century.

Where does the theatre come from?

The building's story begins with the Patronat Obrer, an association founded in Barcelona in 1879 that opened a branch in Tarragona in 1888 on Carrer d'Armanyà. In 1906 the association bought the neighbouring property, a house dating from 1863 with its front facing Rambla Nova — at the time an avenue still taking shape as the city's main axis, later lined with cinemas, theatres and cafés. Jujol was commissioned to design the new hall, linking the existing building to the auditorium behind it with a curved, glazed gallery. The theatre opened its doors in 1910.

Why does the interior feel like the inside of a ship?

Jujol gave the auditorium an allegorical reading: the hall stands for the ship of the church sailing through the rough waters of life. The ceiling fans out into curved beams, metal ties and interlocking bands, and throughout the decoration you can spot the shapes of hulls, keels and prows. That mix of practical theatre architecture with religious and maritime symbolism sets Teatre Metropol apart from the more conventional 19th-century auditoriums found elsewhere in Catalonia.

What has the building been through since 1910?

The theatre's history has not been a straight line. It suffered damage during the Spanish Civil War, and over the following decades it was repeatedly altered as it was turned into a cinema. Ownership passed to the city of Tarragona in 1990, by which point the building was in near-ruinous condition. Restoration work carried out between 1991 and 1995 under architect Josep Llinàs brought the space back into use as a working theatre while preserving Jujol's original decoration. The project won the FAD architecture award in 1996, and the theatre reopened to the public on 10 March 1995.

What can visitors see there today?

Since its restoration, Teatre Metropol has served as one of Tarragona's main civic stages. Its programme covers theatre for adults and children, school performances, classical music concerts, and both amateur and professional productions from across Catalonia. The building itself, thanks to Jujol's distinctive interior, is also worth a look independent of what's on the bill — a walk along Rambla Nova is a natural moment to step inside around a performance or an open day.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed Teatre Metropol?

The building was designed by Josep Maria Jujol, a Catalan architect known for his collaboration with Antoni Gaudí, and the theatre opened in 1910.

Why does the interior look like a ship?

Jujol built the auditorium around the image of a ship sailing through the waves of life, visible in the curved ceiling beams and in the hull and prow shapes worked into the decoration.

Was the building always used as a theatre?

No — after being damaged during the Civil War, it spent many years operating as a cinema before its theatrical use was restored in the 1990s.

When was it restored, and by whom?

Restoration ran from 1991 to 1995 under architect Josep Llinàs, and the project received the FAD architecture award in 1996.

Where exactly is the theatre?

On Rambla Nova in Tarragona, in the heart of the city, close to other landmarks along the main promenade.