The Teatro Guimerá (Guimera Theatre) has been in Santa Cruz de Tenerife since the mid-19^th Century, when it was opened and later became the main theatre of the Canary Islands.

Its name has changed its name throughout history. It is now named in honour of Ángel Guimerá Jorge – a poet, writer, and dramatist born in Tenerife.

Designed by the Canarian architect Manuel de Oráa, the Teatro Guimerá is legendary in the cultural landscape of the archipelago. With more than 150 years of history on its shoulders, it has seen thousands of works and artistic displays.

Architecture

Built on the ruins of an old Dominican Convent and inaugurated in 1851, the Theatre has undergone several reforms throughout its history – mainly to its interior. The last was completed at the end of the last century in order to improve and modernise its facilities.

It has a rectangular layout, with a large stage, majestic balconies, and a large seating area, the Teatro Guimerá has capacity for nearly 1000 people, who can enjoy its insuperable acoustics, lighting, and views.

Exterior

Outside the theatre, you are welcomed in by a large esplanade presided over by a striking sculpture of a female face. Known as ‘Per Adriano’, it is a work by the Polish artist Igor Mitoraj, who presented the sculpture to the theatre at the first International Exhibition of Outdoor Sculpture in the 1970s.

As well as the bars, restaurants and shops surrounding the theatre, there is also a monument to Ángel Guimerá, the dramatist who loans his name to the theatre.

These days, the Teatro Guimerá has become one of the hotspots for the Spanish art world and continues to promote the islands’ culture with the same fervor as when it first opened.