Visit Mercat de les Flors is a well-known theater in Barcelona.
This venue is often used for performances.
It's one of the perfect places to spend a quiet evening with your partner or friends.
I tell you more about this place in this article.
Mercat de les Flors: article summary
Mercat de les Flors: what's its history?
The history of the Mercat de les Flors as a municipal theater dates back to 1983, when the then Councillor for Culture, Maria Aurèlia Capmany, and the then Mayor of Barcelona, Pasqual Maragall, launched the creation of this urban performance space with the renovation of the Palais de l'Agriculture, built for the 1929 International Exhibition on the mountain of Montjuïc.
After the performance of the play "Carmen's tragedy", the Mercat launched a new program national and international shows and artists.
An internationally acclaimed theater from 1929 to the present day
This space and the rest of the Mercat de les Flors were renovated and opened as a municipal theater in 1985 with the premiere of Mahabarata, again under the direction of Peter Brook. The theater, even in its early days, aimed to set an example in all types of creative expression.
The Mercat de les Flors is one of the facilities that make up the Ciutat del Teatre (City of Theatre), which comprises 3 theaters in the vicinity of Plaça Margarita Xirgu: the Mercat itself, the Teatre Lliure and the Institut del Théâtre.
Details of the building and its installation
The Mercat has 4 spaces with different programming. The Sala Maria Aurèlia Capmany (MAC) is the main auditorium. Thanks to its flexible layout, it can accommodate many different types of show. Maximum capacity is 436 seats.
Located on the second floor, the Sala Sebastià Gasch (SG), with a capacity of 80, mainly hosts small-scale shows.
The Sala Ovidi Montllor (OM), built in 2000 on the premises of the Institut del Teatre, is shared with this school. Its 320 and has an Italian-style layout.
Opened in January 2011 as a tribute to the famous choreographer, the Sala Pina Bausch (PB) is a 240 m² multi-purpose auditorium that serves as a rehearsal space and also hosts small-scale activities. The large 12 m diameter dome, which covers the Mercat entrance hall is the work of artist Miquel Barceló.
Mercat de les Flors: a side project
The Mercat also runs El Graner, a center for the creation and study of body language and gesture. It is part of the City Council's Art Factories program.
El Graner hosts residencies for dance artists, and develops artistic cooperation projects with other countries.It also helps to integrate the center into its neighborhood.
El Graner offers a wide range of programs, including a residency for artists.
A large building
El Graner's premises cover an area of 1,000 m², with 4 rehearsal, creation and performance rooms, divided into a 240 m² ensemble, 2 100 m² rehearsal rooms and a 42 m² individual research room. There are also several meeting and common areas, living rooms and a kitchen.
How to get to Mercat de les FLors?
To get there, walk to Montjuïc from the metro station Poble Sec on line L3. You can also take the funicular to reach the site.
The Mercat de les Flors is a place that takes you back to the last century. With its performance halls and the occasional play, I recommend that you spend some time here. A perfect place if you want to enjoy the city's theatrical culture!
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