Italy

The Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele

One of the unique and interesting historic buildings in Palermo was the Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele. It is known as the opera house  and is located on the Piazza Verdi in Palermo.

Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele.

We decided to take a tour of the inside of the largest opera house in Italy. It is known for its perfect acoustics and was featured in the Francis Ford Coppola’s film The Godfather Part III (1990).

Entrance foyer area of the opera house.

The inside is quite ornate with many marble and unique features.  The main theatre area is designed in a horseshoe style and has seating for up to 1381 people.

View of the main theatre area

It was built in 1897 and dedicated to King Victor Emanuel II. It is the biggest in Italy, and the third largest in Europe and also renowned for its perfect acoustics. 

The inside lights and ceilings were unique and ornate.

We saw the stage area which had the system for the pop up sets for the opera. 

View from the presidential box of the stage with the pop up sets for the opera

The opera house has some very ornate areas and it had a unique feel to it. The seats are very comfortable and covered in velvet. There was lots of leg room and it was said the architect who designed it was a tall man.

Orchestra seating are lower than the stage area of the opera house.
The box seats and ceiling of the Palermo Opera house
The presidential box with a perfect view of the stage.
Curved walls within the opera house with some false doors along with doors to certain rooms.
Shelley and Ray on the main floor of the opera house in Palermo, Sicily.

It was an interesting and well worth taking the time to explore this historic landmark of Palermo.

“L’avventura più grande è quella che ci aspetta”