Teatro del Generalife

The Teatro del Generalife is an open-air theatre set within the Generalife gardens, part of the Alhambra monumental complex in Granada. For over seventy years it has served as the main stage of the Granada International Festival of Music and Dance, staging concerts and ballet performances against a backdrop of historic walls and cypress hedges.

How did an open-air theatre end up inside a Nasrid garden?

The idea took shape alongside the festival itself, founded in 1952. To fit an audience and the technical facilities a live event needs, the Generalife gardens were extended southward, and a spacious outdoor theatre was built at their far end. The design came from conservation architect Francisco Prieto Moreno, who drew on the layout of a classic Nasrid riad — the rectangular, axial garden of water and greenery typical of Alhambra's palace architecture. The theatre opened in 1953, for the festival's second edition, built specifically to host Spanish dance and classical ballet.

Why is it known as the "theatre of cypresses"?

Its defining feature is a living wall of cypress trees standing in for a stage backdrop. Rather than erecting temporary scenery each season, the theatre's designers opted for a permanent green curtain — an unusual solution in theatre architecture, and one that fits naturally with the garden setting of the Generalife. The dark, dense cypress hedge stands out against the pale stone seating and the evening sky over the Sierra Nevada, turning the setting itself into part of the show.

How has the venue changed over the decades?

The theatre's current form is the result of a thorough renovation carried out between 2003 and 2005, which updated the seating, backstage areas and technical infrastructure needed for large-scale music and dance productions. The renovated theatre reopened during the festival's 54th edition with a double bill honouring three names central to twentieth-century Spanish culture — Manuel de Falla, Federico García Lorca and Salvador Dalí, all of them tied to Granada through their work and friendships.

What happens on stage today?

The Teatro del Generalife remains the centrepiece of the Granada International Festival of Music and Dance, held every year between June and July. The festival also uses the Alhambra's palaces and other historic sites around the city, but the Generalife theatre is where much of its dance and ballet programme takes place. Seating holds roughly 1,200 spectators, though the exact figure varies with each production's stage layout.

How do you get there?

The theatre sits inside the Generalife gardens, reachable on foot from the Alhambra's main entrance. Visitors can also take city bus lines C30 or C32 from central Granada, which stop close to the entrance of the palace and garden complex.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Teatro del Generalife? An open-air theatre in the Generalife gardens within the Alhambra complex in Granada, and the main stage of the Granada International Festival of Music and Dance.

Who designed it and when did it open? Architect Francisco Prieto Moreno; it opened in 1953 for the festival's second edition.

Why is it called the "theatre of cypresses"? Because a living wall of cypress trees serves as the stage's natural backdrop.

When does the festival take place? Every year between June and July.

How many people can the theatre hold? Around 1,200 spectators, depending on the stage setup.

How do you get there? On foot from the Alhambra's main entrance, or by city bus lines C30 and C32.