Arriaga Theatre
This point of interest is available as audio on the tour: Visit Bilbao, A Basque City Reborn
Welcome to the Arriaga Theatre, one of Bilbao’s most iconic and beautiful buildings.
It was built between 1886 and 1890 by architect Joaquín de Rucoba, who also designed Malaga’s Atarazanas Market and bullring.
The building’s façade was inspired by the Paris Opera House, while its name pays tribute to Bilbao-born composer Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga, nicknamed the “Spanish Mozart.”
After a devastating fire in 1914, the building was meticulously restored in the 1980s to recapture its former glory.
Today, the Arriaga remains a major cultural hub in the city. Its rich year-round programme includes opera, ballet, concerts, and top-quality theatre performances.
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