Spain Moves to Donate Historic Cervantes Theater in Tangier to Morocco

Speaking in turn on the transfer of this cultural heritage to Morocco, the Spanish Congress of Deputies sided with the decision adopted in February by the Council of Ministers, thus giving its approval to an agreement for the irrevocable donation to Morocco, of what constitutes one of the most important cultural buildings in the city of the Strait.

The transfer of the largest monument in North Africa, 106 years old and now abandoned, is materialized by a protocol which, in its form and content, constitutes an international agreement, reports Le Matin. According to the terms of this agreement consulted by the same source, the Grand Théâtre Cervantès will henceforth be part of the "Private Domain of the Moroccan State" and cannot in any case be transferred to a third party. Moreover, by virtue of this agreement, Morocco will have to "restore the building in its entirety, respecting the original architecture, both of the facade and the interior, and preserving the original design of the theater". It should be specified that all the costs related to these renovation and maintenance works will be borne by Morocco which, moreover, has undertaken to preserve the symbolism and history of the building, by maintaining the name "Grand Théâtre Cervantès".

Furthermore, Morocco, which will henceforth fully manage this high place of cultural expression, will have to guarantee, according to the agreement, "the purposes of public utility and social interest and the promotion of culture in general, and of Spanish and Moroccan cultures in particular, by devoting the theater to a use in accordance with these purposes".