Demolition of Historic Santa Úrsula Cinema Begins to Make Way for New Auditorium

The demolition of the old Santa Úrsula cinema-theater has begun, marking the end of an era for the Tenerife municipality. As reported by Diario de Avisos, work started this week at 17 Carretera España to clear the site for a new local auditorium, a project designed to modernize the town’s cultural facilities.

The building had been closed since 2016. Since then, it fell into such disrepair that technical reports deemed it impossible to restore. Officials decided against saving the original façade, citing safety concerns and the need to meet modern building codes for accessibility and fire protection.

Mayor Juan Acosta confirmed that the demolition will continue over the coming days. The process involves a mix of heavy machinery and manual dismantling, particularly near Calle Rosario Pérez Correa, under the supervision of architect Abraham Medina Sanabria. Because the structure contains fiber cement, specialized crews are handling the removal of hazardous materials to ensure safety—a common challenge when renovating mid-20th-century buildings.

For many locals, the demolition is the loss of a landmark that served as a cultural hub for the north of the island for decades. The sight of the demolition crews has drawn many residents to the site, reflecting the building's deep sentimental value as a long-standing meeting place. While the new auditorium promises to bring the town’s cultural infrastructure into the 21st century, it faces the challenge of replacing a space that held a unique place in the community’s collective memory.