In the very heart of Alicante, next to the bustling market and theater, a building that was once the center of the city’s cultural life has stood empty for more than two decades. The Ideal cinema, which opened in 1925, survived the heyday of silent films, wars, and changing eras, but today its future remains uncertain. Since its closure in 2003, the building has found itself in a kind of limbo: neither renovations nor official protection as a cultural landmark have moved forward.
In 2019, a new owner purchased the historic building with ambitious plans to transform it into a modern boutique hotel. However, bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of agreement between city and regional authorities have frozen the project. Meanwhile, activists and local residents are insisting on preserving the cinema as a community space, highlighting its architectural and historical value for the city.
An architectural gem on the brink of disappearance
Ideal is the last remaining representative of an era when cinemas were not just places to watch films, but centers that brought people together. Its façade still adorns the street, and inside, unique features have been preserved: a spacious hall, balconies, and an orchestra pit designed for live music performances. Even so, the building is slowly deteriorating, and the green nets on its façade only remind passersby of its former glory.
Attempts to include the cinema on the list of protected sites have been made repeatedly, but each time the process stalls at different stages. Even recommendations from city architecture experts have failed to speed up the decision-making. Authorities cite the complexity of procedures and a lack of consensus, while the building’s owners express frustration with the ongoing uncertainty.
Caught between culture and commerce
Plans to turn Ideal into a hotel call for a complete overhaul of the interior, which would effectively destroy its historic structure. This has sparked protests from heritage advocates, who believe the building should remain accessible to residents and visitors. They suggest using the space for a theater, concert venue, or a branch of the regional film archive.
Meanwhile, the investor insists on going ahead with the project, promising a modern hotel with restaurants and a terrace. But without the required permits, no work can start, and the conflict between business interests and the community continues to intensify. In May 2025, the standoff reached a peak: the owner even threatened legal action against city authorities over the delays.
Historic context and significance for the city
The Ideal was built during a period when multifunctional halls for theater, cinema, and musical performances were being actively constructed across Spain. Its design featured engineering solutions that were innovative for its time: reinforced concrete structures, spacious lobbies, and convenient emergency exits. During the Civil War, the building served not only as an entertainment venue but also for military purposes, and after the war, it was used as a temporary holding site for prisoners.
Today, the Ideal remains a symbol of a bygone era and a reminder of how quickly cultural heritage can disappear if it is not cared for. Until the authorities and owners reach a compromise, the building will continue to slowly deteriorate, while the residents of Alicante await a decision that will determine its fate for the next hundred years.
