Teatro El jardinito

Teatro El Jardinito is a theatre and cultural venue in Cabra, a town in the province of Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain. It occupies a converted early-20th-century mansion on Avenida Fernando Pallarés, blending private history with a working public stage.

What was here before the theatre?

Long before actors and musicians took the stage, the building was a private family home. It was built in the 1920s for the Pallarés de la Yglesia family, styled after the palazzi lining Venice's canals, which explains the ornamental facade and unusual silhouette for a small Andalusian town. The family lived there until 1989, after which the property changed hands.

How did a family mansion become a public theatre?

Ten years later, in 1999, Cabra's town council and the regional government of Andalusia, the Junta de Andalucía, acquired the building with plans to turn it into a cultural venue for the town. Renovation work stretched on for several years, wrapping up in 2004, though the theatre itself didn't open its doors until 2008. The finished venue seats 465 people, and its upper level was designed to double as an open-air summer cinema for another 240.

What happens at Teatro El Jardinito today?

Since opening, the theatre has served as the main venue for the Certamen de Creación Audiovisual de Cabra, an audiovisual competition the town has run every year since 1995, drawing filmmakers and other names from Spain's film scene. Beyond the festival, the calendar regularly includes theatre productions, concerts, and dance performances, making the building a fixture of cultural life in Cabra.

For visitors, the venue is worth a look for two reasons: it's a rare example of Venetian-inspired architecture in this part of Andalusia, and it shows how a historic private residence can be given a new public purpose without losing its original character. It also sits within easy walking distance of Cabra's historic centre, making it a natural stop while exploring the town on foot.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Teatro El Jardinito located?

The theatre stands on Avenida Fernando Pallarés in Cabra, a town in the province of Córdoba, Andalusia.

How many people can the theatre hold?

The main hall seats 465 people, and the upper level, which converts into an open-air summer cinema, holds another 240.

What was the building used for before it was a theatre?

It was a private mansion built in the 1920s for the Pallarés de la Yglesia family, who lived there until 1989.

What kind of events take place at the theatre?

It hosts the Certamen de Creación Audiovisual de Cabra, running every year since 1995, along with theatre productions, concerts, and dance shows.