The Old Cine-Theater Carlos Manuel was constructed in 1945 by the architect Manuel Joaquin Norte Júnior.  For many years, the Cine-Theater Carlos Manuel was the only cinema of Sintra.  It was part of the everyday cultural and social life of the Sintra population for 40 years, creating strong roots in the collective memory of the city.  After the 1985 fire that destroyed great part of the building, some years of abandonment followed, during which temporary cultural events made use of the remaining spaces.  Recognizing not only the value and representation of the building, but also the necessity of a new room of cinema and entertainment venue for the village of Sintra that could shelter, among others, events of the already sanctioned Festival of Sintra, the City council decided to acquire the property and promote its reconversion.