A mysterious and beautiful ghost concert hall. It has no website, it opens its doors several times…read morea year (often by invitation only), it's not on all maps and it has no road signs*. It cost €53 million to build and it costs €360,000 every year to maintain.
The construction of Auditorio Internacional de Torrevieja** was finished in 2011. For 4 years it has been "kind of open". It hosts classical music concerts some 10 times a year, but there's no regular program. Why?
1. Technical problems? The hall seems to be in perfect order, but there are problems with the licence to operate. If it is not safe - why open it 10 times a year? If it is safe - why not open it for normal use? Couldn't construction problems be fixed in several days or weeks? (if they even exist)?
2. Who should operate it? There are talks going on between the municipal government and the regional government about who and how should use the building and on what terms. Any solution would be better than no solution for years. If this is the problem how is it still not solved?
3. Was the concept wrong in the first place and there won't be enough customers? If so why not promote the venue just a bit? Put up road signs at least? A website? Start selling tickets in a way that they could be bought without troubles? Anyway the hall is packed every time it is open...
To be honest I have no reasonable explanation why any problems couldn't be solved in 4 years. If you are reading this and you know the solution to this puzzle (or at least a guess) - please let me know!
About the hall itself. There is a symphonic hall (1450 seats) and a chamber hall (385 seats). Great sound, nice views from the hill on which the hall is located, modern and beautiful building. If you are in the city on the day of a concert - you should definitely visit.
The most up-to-date information about the events is probably here: http://www.torrevieja.com/
Tickets are not easy to buy. They are sold in the office of the municipal theater (Teatro Municipal de Torrevieja: http://www.yelp.com/biz/teatro-municipal-de-torrevieja-torrevieja) (several kilometers away, during very limited hours). No tickets sold online.
I hope the issues get resolved soon and the venue opens for normal use.
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*Getting there.
1) Via N-332 road. Drive to Hospital Quiron (former San Jaime hospital). Pass the hospital. You arrived. Parking lot is open on days of events and is free.
2) Via Calle Cecilio Gallego Alamis. Drive to (38.000469, -0.680112) roundabout. Take the exit with dead end sign. Drive some 200 m.
3) There are buses on some event days departing from the Theatre Municipal de Torrevieja and returning after the event. I never used them
4) Nearest public bus stop - Hospital Quiron (former San Jaime). 3 minutes walk
** Name. It is confusing but there's no one standard name. Some of the names currently in use:
- Auditorio Internacional de Música de Torrevieja
- Auditorio Internacional de Torrevieja
- Auditorio Conservatorio de Torrevieja
- Auditorio Conservatorio Internacional de Música
- Auditorio de Torrevieja
