Teatro Massimo is Palermo’s opera house, the largest in Italy. It’s located in Piazza Verdi and is dedicated to popular king Victor Emanuel II. Construction on it began in 1874 but was not completed until 1897, The structure was refurbished in the late 20th century.
The theater is large, over 7,700 sq meters (84,000 sq feet), and has many entrances although one is clearly intended to be the grand entrance.
We visited on a rainy day and the lighting was not the best for photography, but the theater is an impressive and beautiful structure, with elegant columns and finely detailed craftsmanship. There are two lions guarding the main entrance, each with a female figure on its back. One figure represents Comedy, and the other Tragedy.
A few of the other details that caught our eye included these elegant lamps and a bust of one of Sicily’s favorite sons, the great composer Bellini (of Catania),
The stairs were popular with dog walkers, including these three fine hounds who are showing their master the right way to go.
The theater was locked when visited, but the interior decor is beautiful and fitting for such a fine structure. Below is a photo of the auditorium.
(Courtesy Wikimedia and Muesse)
