Gran Teatre del Liceu

Right on La Rambla, behind this grand facade, stands the Gran Teatre del Liceu, an opera house that has faced death three times and refused to surrender. When it opened in 1847, it was Europe's largest opera house with 3,500 seats. Unlike royal theaters across the continent, this one belonged to private shareholders who built it for the rising bourgeoisie.

Just 14 years later, in 1861, fire tore through the auditorium and stage. The shareholders rebuilt it within a year. Then came the night of November 7, 1893. During a performance of Guillaume Tell, an anarchist threw two bombs into the stalls, killing about 20 people. The attack targeted the wealthy elite who filled these seats. For years afterward, no one would sit where the victims had died.

The most devastating blow struck on January 31, 1994, when fire consumed nearly everything during routine repairs. Only the facade, entrance hall, and Hall of Mirrors survived. This time, public authorities stepped in. Five years of reconstruction followed, blending 19th century splendor with modern technology. The horseshoe shaped auditorium was faithfully recreated, and Spain's oldest orchestra, performing here since 1847, returned home.