Gran Teatro Falla (City Theatre)

From the early years of the 17th century, there are records of permanent premises here which were used for the theatre activity in the city. During the following century, three buildings were opened and were used for Spanish dramatic art, for comedy and operas in French and Italian. On the site where the Gran Teatro Falla stands, the so-called San Fernando Theatre was built in the early 19th century, when the city was besieged by the French, and it was destroyed later by fire.
In 1885, work began on the Gran Teatro de Cadiz, according to the designs of the architect Adolfo Morales, and concluded in 1910.  It is a freestanding building, in the Neo-Mudejar style, with bare brickwork exterior decorated by horseshoe arches. In the main room inside, the boxes are formed by iron structures with Nazari inspired motifs, while the roofing is covered by a canvas with caliphal-style vaulting and allegorical scenes of the dramatic arts. This work was entrusted to the painters Felipe Abarzuza and Julio Moisés, who also produced the set of paintings that decorate the foyer.
Its name was the Gran Teatro de Cádiz until 1926, when its name was changed to the Gran Teatro Falla to honour the iconic musician of Cadiz, the favourite son of the city.
Gran Teatro Falla has a busy and extensive of programme featuring the dramatic arts throughout the year, and is best known for being the venue for the Official Competition of the Carnival Groups of Cadiz Carnival in February.