Teatro Massimo (Massimo Theater), Palermo (must see)

The Massimo Theater is the largest opera house in Italy, often cited as the third largest after the Paris Opera and Vienna State Opera. In 1864, the Palermo City Council launched an international competition to design a new opera house, intended to express the cultural ambitions of newly unified Italy. The winning design was by architect Giovanni Battista Filippo Basile, a leading figure in Sicilian historicist architecture. After his death in 1891, construction was continued and completed by his son, Ernesto Basile. The theater officially opened in 1897.

Basile drew inspiration from classical Sicilian architecture, particularly the monumental forms of the ancient Greek temples of Agrigento, combined with elements of Neoclassicism and late Renaissance revival. The massive portico, broad steps, and temple-like massing give the building a solemn, ceremonial presence.

Inside, the auditorium seats approximately 1,300 spectators and is arranged in the traditional horseshoe shape, designed for optimal acoustics. It features seven levels, including stalls, boxes, and galleries. The stage is slightly inclined, while the seating rises steadily away from it, enhancing sightlines and sound projection.

In 1974, the theater closed for restoration and modernization. What was initially planned as a relatively short renovation became a 23-year closure. It finally reopened in 1997, regaining its role as Palermo’s principal cultural venue. Since reopening, the theater has resumed an active international program of opera, ballet, and concerts. While administrative and financial challenges have periodically affected its management, the Massimo remains a central symbol of Palermo’s cultural life and ambitions.