Gran Teatre del Liceu

The Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona's emblematic opera house, is located halfway down the busy Las Ramblas and very near to the Liceu metro station.

Founded in 1847, the building has not escaped tragedy over the years. After being rebuilt following a fire in 1861 it became Spain's most famous opera house, a haven for the intellectual classes in the late 19th century. The Liceu was destroyed again in 1893 when an anarchist threw two bombs into the stalls during a performance of William Tell.

The most recent fire was in 1994, destroying most of the building, although the main vestibule with the staircases and the Hall of Mirrors were saved and restored to their former glory, with the building opening again in 1999. Although the exterior is modest and relatively modern, a wealth of plush velvet, gilt and glass is hidden inside.

The main hall was inspired by Milan's Teatro alla Scala and takes the shape of a horseshoe in five levels. It has a seating capacity of 2292 people, making it one of the largest opera houses in the world. The decoration in the hall faithfully reproduces the 1909 refurbishment, characterised by brass dragon-shaped lamps with glass shades. The seats are sumptuously covered in red velvet. The stage, dominated by a red velvet curtain designed by the famous fashion designer Antoni Miró, has been equipped with state-of-art lighting and technological advances for all kinds of musical and theatre performances.

The new foyer is a meeting place for the general public and houses the opera house's main bar-restaurant. It can also be used as a room for small concerts and events or a multi-purpose area for meetings, banquets, corporate events and parties.

The Espai Liceu, opened in 2002, is a cultural area for the promotion of theatre and musical events.

The events calendar of the Petit Liceu offers for families, schools and universities several activities, to experience the emotion of live shows. The Petit Liceu was created with the aim to establish and highlight the importance of education with the magic of opera and dance.

There is also a library, cafeteria and a small auditorium where visitors can listen to concerts and watch projections of operas.

The Gran Teatre del Liceu is an eco-friendly Company.