The casino that became a city hall

The Gran Casino opened in 1887 as a Monte Carlo-inspired retreat by La Concha Bay, its neoclassical facades echoing the French Riviera. Designed by Adolfo Morales de los Ríos and Luis Aladrén Mendivil, it hosted aristocrats, political figures like Mata Hari, and even the Shah of Persia. Roulette tables and a dance hall made it a social hub until gambling was banned in 1924. The building’s ornate stonework and details remain, though bullet holes from the Spanish Civil War punctuate its walls.

Converted to a municipal building in 1947, it now houses San Sebastián’s city council. Its grand façade, visible from the bay and gardens, still reflects the 'Little Paris' reputation that defined its early years. The Plenary Hall, once a dance floor, now hosts civic meetings. Today, visitors note its photogenic architecture and the historical traces of its dual life as both a pleasure palace and a civic heart.

The building’s layered history - from elite leisure to public service - makes it a cultural landmark. Its story is not just about transformation, but about how places carry the echoes of the lives that shaped them.

Sources: Wikimedia Commons, San Sebastián City Hall: Discover the Belle Époque Jewel of the Basque ..., San Sebastián City Hall, San Sebastián (2026): Belle Époque Grandeur on ..., San Sebastián Town Hall: history, art and grandeur, San Sebastian City Hall, from grand casino to civic hub, San Sebastian's City Hall - Explorow.com, Ayuntamiento (City Hall / Former Casino) — San Sebastián