Teatro Pérez Galdós

This 1,000-seat theater in Las Palmas leaves no one indifferent; be it for its prestigious shows or its splendid façade, visitors always enjoy themselves at Teatro Pérez Galdós. Built in 1890 and completely renovated in 2007, it is now one of the most modern theaters in all of Spain, and the permanent home of the Opera Festival of Las Palmas. The theater was named after famed Spanish realist novelist and playwright Benito Perez Galdos, which was the leading literary figure in 19th-century Spain and, incidentally, was born in Las Palmas. But the celebrated playwright wasn’t all that enthused about the theatre’s arrival, which, according to him, was too extravagant. It even inspired Galdos to write satirical poems about the building...only to have it named after him a few years later. Speaking of famous connections, the theatre is also home to the Saint-Saëns room, in honor of the French composer who spent quite a bit of time on Gran Canaria, composing numerous symphonies. The lavishly ornate room is a marvel of architecture and is the crown jewel of the theater; the main concert hall, however, is not to be overlooked, with its splendid ceiling and perfectly symmetrical pavilions.