Teatro Chapí

Ruperto Chapí was born in Villena in 1851 and wrote some of the most durable zarzuelas in the repertoire; the theatre his town built was dedicated to him. Work began in 1914 to plans by the Valencian architect José María Cortina, and the house opened on 5 December 1925. It later fell out of use and stood closed for more than fifteen years. Restoration between 1993 and 1999 dealt with structure and acoustics alike, and the theatre reopened on 24 April 1999; it has since kept a season of drama, concerts and opera.