Teatro Principal

Teatro Principal is the oldest and most prominent theatre in Alicante, the Mediterranean city on Spain's Costa Blanca, and it has anchored the city's cultural life since the mid-19th century.

How do you get to Teatro Principal?

The theatre stands in Alicante's historic centre, an easy walk from the seafront Explanada and the old town. Most visitors simply reach it on foot while exploring downtown Alicante, though city buses also stop nearby.

How was the theatre built?

The story begins on 23 September 1845, when a group of local merchants, two aristocratic families and several landowners agreed to fund a new theatre for the city. Alicante's city council responded just a month later, on 18 October 1845, by granting the plot on what was then Plaza del Barranquet. Construction started on 28 January 1846 and took twenty months, costing a total of 960,000 reales of the period. The neoclassical design came from Alicante-born architect Emilio Jover Pierrón.

The building opened its doors on 25 September 1847 with a staging of "Guzmán el Bueno", a romantic drama by Antonio Gil de Zárate. A decade later it was renamed Teatro de Alicante, and soon afterwards it took the name it still carries today, Teatro Principal.

What will you see inside?

A 19th-century Italian-style playhouse

The building keeps the classic layout of a 19th-century theatre: a formal neoclassical facade, an auditorium arranged with boxes and a gallery, and a stage whose technical machinery was significantly expanded during a renovation carried out in 1990-1991.

Marks left by history

Teatro Principal has hosted Spanish royalty on several occasions - Queen Isabel II in 1858, King Amadeo I in 1871, Alfonso XIII in 1909, and in more recent times Queen Sofía in 1991 and King Juan Carlos with Queen Sofía in 1995. During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) a bombing raid partially destroyed the building, which was rebuilt in 1941. An earlier major refurbishment had already taken place in 1876.

When should you visit?

The theatre runs an active programme all year round, mixing drama, dance, music concerts, circus, zarzuela, opera and family shows. Because the line-up changes constantly, it is worth checking what is playing before a trip to Alicante - there is almost always something on stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Teatro Principal in Alicante? The theatre opened in 1847, making it nearly 180 years old, with periods of reconstruction after wartime damage and later renovations.

Who designed the building? Architect Emilio Jover Pierrón designed the theatre, giving it the neoclassical style typical of Spanish civic theatres of the period.

Was Teatro Principal ever destroyed? Yes - during the Spanish Civil War the building was partially destroyed by bombing and was rebuilt in 1941.

What kind of shows does the theatre put on? Its programme covers drama, dance, music, circus, zarzuela, opera and family-friendly productions, making the offering notably varied.