UMUSIC HOTEL TEATRO ALBENIZ'S HISTORY
This is the story of a hotel with a theater, or a theater with a hotel.
Either way, Madrid is bringing back two of its most iconic spaces, just a few meters from Puerta del Sol.
Thucydides, the Athenian historian and military leader (460 BC), left us with a famous quote: "History is an unceasing beginning again."
Undoubtedly, this phrase captures how two of Madrid's most iconic spaces are rewriting their story to begin anew.
Today, we share the story of the new UMusic Hotel Teatro Albéniz, a hotel that will occupy the space of the former Hotel Madrid and its neighbor, Teatro Albéniz.
The origins of this story date back to 1762.
It was in this year that the story of this iconic building began, located in the heart of the Spanish capital, just a short walk from Puerta del Sol.
A unique building that, over the centuries, has undergone significant transformations, becoming the architectural masterpiece it is today in the 21st century.
The abandoned Hotel Madrid and Teatro Albéniz sit on the land once occupied by the Royal Printing Press, where the Gaceta de Madrid was printed, the precursor of the current BOE. This building went through several phases, including the Casa de Correos and the Telegraph Office, before evolving into the space we now know.
The “Gran Hotel Poymar” was inaugurated during the 1930 Carnival, marking the beginning of a new era. Its promoters, Porres and Martínez, decided to divide the project into two parts: the hotel on Carretas Street and the theater on Paz Street.
In 1945, the theater was reimagined as Teatro Albéniz.
After financial difficulties, the theater passed into the hands of Maximino Moro, who promoted the construction of a new venue that reflected the Italian Renaissance style. The new theater was inaugurated in 1945 and quickly became a cultural landmark.
1948: Renovation of Hotel Madrid.
Architect Ambrós carried out a major renovation to modernize the building and adapt it to new needs, while preserving its cosmopolitan essence. Later, the hotel was used as a cinema, and in 1985, the theater was restored and reopened to the public.
A new era began in 2022.
The current owner, Silicius, acquired the property in 2016, undertaking a complete renovation to turn it into a five-star hotel while preserving all the protected elements of the theater.
UMusic Hotels is part of this process of rewriting history. We are passionate about supporting projects that allow us to "begin again," choosing cities with a rich musical history and unique energy for discovery.
As Thucydides said, "History is an unceasing beginning again." And at UMusic Hotels, we are part of that story, always ready to make a new beginning.
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