Teatre Rialto, Valencia
A rationalist landmark on Plaza del Ayuntamiento and the home stage of Valencia's public theatre programming.
The Teatre Rialto stands on Plaza del Ayuntamiento in a striking rationalist building from the late 1930s. Today it is the main stage of the Institut Valencia de Cultura, the regional government's arts body, and the place to see contemporary drama and dance made in Valencia.
The essentials
Address
Plaza del Ayuntamiento 17, 46002 Valencia
Neighborhood & metro
On Plaza del Ayuntamiento in Sant Francesc, the heart of Ciutat Vella. Nearest metro: Xativa (lines 3, 5 and 9), a couple of minutes' walk.
Size & capacity
An intimate main hall with around 400 seats - a fraction of the 1,400-seat cinema the building once held - so every row feels close to the stage.
Type & programming
Contemporary drama and dance from the Institut Valencia de Cultura: its own productions, Valencian companies and the Dansa Valencia festival.
About the venue
The building was designed in 1935 by architect Cayetano Borso di Carminati and opened in 1939 as a cinema with a tea room and restaurant. Its rationalist lines and Art Deco touches make it one of the most distinctive facades on the square.
After the Generalitat restored it, the Rialto became the home stage of the Institut Valencia de Cultura's theatre programming: in-house productions, Valencian companies, new writing and the Dansa Valencia festival each spring.
The same building also houses the Filmoteca, the Generalitat's film archive cinema, which runs its own separate programme of classic and arthouse screenings - a different box office from the theatre.
Tips for your visit
Most performances are in Spanish or Valencian, which makes the Rialto a brilliant workout if you are learning the language - check the show's language before booking if that matters to you.
Tickets are sold through the Institut Valencia de Cultura's official channels; book ahead for premieres and festival dates, as the hall is small.
You are on Valencia's main square, so pre-show dinner and post-show drinks are never more than a few streets away, and the Xativa metro and night buses leave from right nearby.
What's on now
The Institut Valencia de Cultura publishes the Rialto's season and ticket links on its official website. Check there for current programming and dates.
Check current programmingPlan the rest of your trip
Making Valencia home?
From finding the right neighborhood to handling the paperwork, we help newcomers settle in faster so you can enjoy the city's culture sooner.