Palacio de Festivales de Cantabria, Santander

The International Music Festival in Santander (FIS) originated in 1948 with folklore evenings organized by the University of Culture Menéndez Pelayo. In 1952, a summer theatre was built to host the event, and in 1956, the Santander festival became a member of the European Association of Music Festivals. During the festival, folklore and theatre groups from all over Spain perform, and artists and groups from other countries are invited. The festival is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Information and Tourism and aims to promote the national art of Spain. In parallel with the festival program, the Paloma O'Shea International Piano Competition is held every two years in Santander.

In 1984, the design of the festival auditorium, designed by architect Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza, was approved, and construction was completed in 1990. As a result, a bright and very eccentric example of architectural postmodernism appeared on the embankment, which is mistakenly called neoclassicism and references to antiquity by many sources.The author was indeed inspired by the famous ancient theatre in Epidaurus, but he completely reinterpreted it, making the audience enter the hall not from above, but as if rising from within the stage. The facade and finishing demonstrate complete utilitarianism: the walls are clad in contrasting stripes of white and pink marble, and the central part is covered with bright green patinated copper. Some people find maritime symbolism in the two 50-meter-high corner columns, which remind them of ship masts and pipes, but in fact the columns serve as lighting towers.

During the construction of the hall, disputes about both the financial side (the estimate was significantly exceeded) and the architectural features of the building did not subside for a long time. In particular, the public did not like its gigantic size, the lack of natural lighting, and 2 weeks before the opening, at the insistence of the public, the rows of chairs were urgently redeveloped - the public considered the distance between them insufficient. Nevertheless, the Palais des Festivals has become an architectural symbol of Santander. In addition to the summer festival, the hall functions as a permanent concert and theater venue.