The Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore is not only considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world: it is also a building full of history, art and cultural memory that you can discover in a totally different way in Grand Splendid Experience, an immersive proposal where you can discover how this old cinema-theater was transformed over time through interactive scenes and an unforgettable ending in its dome.
Discover the secret corners and even the dome of the Ateneo Grand Splendid, one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world in an immersive tour.
The Grand Splendid Experience offers you to go through different stages of the building through interactive scenes, where you will relive the theatrical and cinematographic past of the building that today is the Ateneo bookstore. In addition, there is an immersive room, designed to immerse you in the splendor of the golden age of Buenos Aires cinema, when this space was one of the most important in Buenos Aires.
This journey through the past and the architecture of the former Gran Splendid theater and the current Ateneo bookstore takes place on the third floor and combines interactive scenes, an immersive room and a café with a privileged view of the theater’s original dome.
An interactive journey through the history of cinema and theater in one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world.
The tour culminates with a café located high up, from where you will be able to have a close look at the painted dome , one of the artistic jewels of the building.
The Grand Splendid Theater building was inaugurated in 1919 on Santa Fe Avenue and was designed by the architect Peró y Torres Armengol. It was conceived as a theater of great category, with capacity for thousands of spectators and an aesthetics inspired by the great European theaters.
https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/es/otros-establecimientos/el-ateneo-grand-splendid
Throughout the 20th century it functioned as a theater and cinema. With the passing of time, it was reconverted without losing its original structure, until it was transformed into the current El Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore.
One of the great attractions of the Grand Splendid is that it preserves much of its original architecture: the painted dome, the work of Italian artist Nazareno Orlandi, with allegories of peace after World War I, the original boxes, now converted into reading spaces, the old stage, which now serves as a cafeteria, and even the upper galleries.
The Grand Splendid Experience allows you to observe these elements from new perspectives, especially from the upper levels of the building. Tickets for this experience can be purchased on the bookstore’s website or at the cashier’s desk and include a drink.
It is important to note that the café and the interactive scenes sector are accessible to people with reduced mobility and the immersive room and the old upper galleries can only be accessed by stairs and do not have adapted access, as they are part of the original protected structure of the theater, which cannot be modified.
The Grand Splendid Experience is a unique opportunity to look at one of the most emblematic buildings in Buenos Aires with different eyes.
📍 El Ateneo Grand Splendid, 1860 Santa Fe Ave.
📅 Starting December 26th
🎟️ General admission: $30 thousand
🎟️ Foreigners: $45 thousand
🎟️ Pensioners and students: $15 thousand
🎟️ Children under 10 years old: Free
🎟️ General admission to the bookstore: Free of charge