Барселона

Barcelona's musical history is closely associated with the Gran Teatre del Liceu, whose theatre on La Rambla opened in 1847. Fire destroyed the auditorium in 1861, and performances resumed in 1862. The bombing of November 1893 caused another closure, lasting until January 1894. After the fire of 1994, productions moved to other Barcelona venues while the theatre was rebuilt; the new house opened in 1999.

The Palau de la Música Catalana offers another distinctive setting for performance. Designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, its steel structure and richly decorated interior form part of a UNESCO World Heritage property shared with the Hospital de Sant Pau. Antoni Gaudí's Sagrada Família belongs to a different architectural and religious history. Begun in 1882, it was consecrated and designated a minor basilica in 2010.