The Gran Teatro Cervantes opened in 1913 with a capacity of 1,400 — the largest Spanish-built theatre on the African continent and one of the few major Art Nouveau theatres outside Europe. During the international zone era it hosted opera, zarzuela, ballet, and the first cinema screenings in Morocco. The grand tiled facade, with its allegorical figures of Comedy and Tragedy, remains one of the most photographed buildings in Tangier.
After Moroccan independence the theatre slowly declined and was largely abandoned by the 1990s. A multi-year restoration project began in 2019, partly funded by the Spanish government. As of recently the building remains closed to visitors except for occasional guided tours of the works — check locally before walking out for it.
Address: Rue Anoual, Ville Nouvelle.