The largest opera house in Italy and the third largest in Europe, Teatro Massimo is a temple of music and neoclassical architecture. Its monumental staircase has become an icon of Palermo, immortalized in the finale of "The Godfather Part III".
THE HISTORY
Designed by Giovan Battista Filippo Basile and completed by his son Ernesto in 1897, Teatro Massimo required over twenty years of construction. The building stands on the site of the former Church of the Stigmata and the Monastery of San Giuliano, demolished to make way for this grand work.
The facade, inspired by Greek temples, is preceded by a staircase flanked by two bronze lions. The interior is a triumph of gilding, stucco and frescoes, with a 1,381-seat hall featuring acoustics considered among the finest in the world.
After 23 years of closure for restoration (1974-1997), the theater returned as the beating heart of Palermo's cultural life. Guided tours allow visitors to discover the Hall of Mirrors, the Foyer and the royal boxes.
