Gran Gala Flamenco Show at Palau de la Música Barcelona

Palau de la Música Catalana – a Modernista masterpiece

The Palau de la Música Catalana was built between 1905 and 1908 for a Catalan choral society and is considered one of the finest buildings of Catalan Modernisme. Its exposed red brick facade is covered with mosaic columns, sculpted figures and ceramic flowers, and inside the walls almost disappear behind glass, so daylight floods the hall. The great stained-glass skylight, an inverted dome of gold and blue, hangs over the audience like a sun, while sculpted muses seem to step out of the wall behind the stage. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Watching a show here is the best way to experience the Palau, because you sit inside the hall rather than passing through on a daytime visit. Many travellers search for Palau de la Música tickets just to see the interior; this flamenco evening combines both. Arrive early to admire the facade and the foyer before the doors open.

Gran Gala Flamenco – the show

Gran Gala Flamenco is one of the most widely seen flamenco stagings in Barcelona and has been running for many years. The programme brings together the three pillars of flamenco: cante, the deep and emotional singing; toque, the guitar; and baile, the dance, with its stamping footwork, proud posture and rapid turns. Choreography comes from respected Catalan and Spanish dance companies, accompanied by original music.

Expect all the classic elements: castanets clicking in the dancers' hands, fans opening and closing, embroidered shawls and the long-trained dress called bata de cola sweeping across the stage. Flamenco was born in Andalusia and is listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and seeing it live in such a setting is one of the most memorable things to do in Barcelona at night.

Teatre Poliorama on La Rambla

If you prefer an earlier show, the alternative venue is Teatre Poliorama, on the first floor of the building of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Barcelona on La Rambla. The building's facade clock has long given the official time of the city, and the theatre itself is an intimate, classic auditorium in the very centre of Barcelona.

The Poliorama performance starts at 6 pm, ideal for families or for travellers who want dinner afterwards. It is a short walk from Plaça de Catalunya, and the show, the dancers and the music are the same Gran Gala Flamenco programme as at the Palau. After the show, La Rambla, the Boqueria market area and the lanes of the Gothic Quarter are right outside the door for an evening stroll.

Seats, timing and practical visit

Tickets come in Premium, A, B and C categories at the Palau and in A and B at the Poliorama, and the best seat available in your chosen category is assigned automatically at booking. Your e-tickets are sent by email once the booking is confirmed; check your spam folder if you do not see them. The show lasts about 75 minutes, starting at 9:30 pm at the Palau and 6 pm at the Poliorama on scheduled show dates.

The Palau is in the Sant Pere area, a few minutes' walk from Urquinaona metro and the Gothic Quarter, while the Poliorama is on La Rambla near Catalunya metro. Arrive about 30 minutes before the start to find your seat calmly. Both venues are wheelchair accessible.