Teatro Massimo, Palermo
The Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele is an opera house located on the Piazza Verdi in Palermo, Sicily. It was dedicated to King Victor Emanuel II. The opera house was built by architect Giovanni Battista Filippo Basile and, following his death in 1891, construction was overseen by his son Ernesto. Construction started on January 12, 1874 but was stopped for eight years from 1882 until 1890. Finally, on May 16, 1897, twenty-two years after the laying of the foundation stone, the second largest opera theater after Palais Garnier in Paris was inaugurated with a performance of Verdi's Falstaff.

The Teatro Massimo is the largest theater in Italy (and the third largest opera house in Europe). Basile was inspired by ancient and classical Sicilian architecture and, thus, the exterior was designed in the high neoclassical style incorporating elements of the Greek temples at Selinute and Agrigento. Realized in the late-Renaissance style, the auditorium was planned for 3,000 people, but, in its current format, it seats 1,400, with 7 tiers of boxes rising up around an inclined stage and shaped in the typical horseshoe style.

In 1974, the house was closed for renovations required by updated safety regulations. It remained closed for twenty-three years due the factors including costs over-runs, corruption and political debate. But finally it re-opened on May 12, 1997, four days before its centenary. The opera season started again in 1999, although Verdi's Aida was performed in 1998 while work in progress continued.

Teatro Massimo Bellini, Catania
The Teatro Massimo Bellini is an opera house in Catania, which opened on May 31, 1890. The event was celebrated by a performance of Norma, the masterpiece of the composer to whom the theater was dedicated. Seating 1,200, the creation of what was to finally become the Teatro Massimo Bellini took almost two hundred years. The construction of a public theater was discussed, and a foundation stone was finally laid in 1812.

Architect Salvatore Zahra Buda began to prepare a plan for a theater in the Piazza Nuovaluce, in front of the Santa Maria di Nuovaluce monastery, the location of the present-day theater. It was decided that a "Great Municipal Theater" worthy of an expanding city should be created; the plan of the "Teatro Nuovaluce" (New Light Theater) was a grandiose one in all respects, and was conceived to create one of the most innovative works in Italy. Due to funding problems, work had to stop for some years. Meanwhile the Teatro Nuovaluce, after being partially completed and converted into a multi-purpose hall, was devoted mainly to summer use until 1865 when it was sold privately to finance the construction of a new theater.

In 1870, the theater architect Carlo Sada was appointed to find a suitable site for the new theater. Many location options were considered for the long desired "Massimo" theater. One location was chosen only to be turned down with the original site being brought back into the picture. This time it was to be the location for a large, multi-purpose hall. Again, funding problems arose and the plan was taken over by the Municipality. A Municipal committee then decided that the structure should be made into a single-purpose opera house.

Finally, work proceeded well and the theater was completed in seven years, opening in May 1890. The exterior of the house matches the distinctive Sicilian Baroque style of the neighboring buildings of the late 17th Century. Its marble foyer, the “Ridotto”, is ornate and stuccoed, and a statue of Bellini is located between the central arches. The beautiful red-plush interior includes the main floor seating and four tiers of boxes. Surrounding them, on the upper level, are the unusual arched arcades. The painted ceiling of the theater is quite spectacular in its depiction of scenes from four of Bellini’s most well-known operas.

Address: via Perrotta,12 95131 Catania Tel.: (095) 730 61 11 Web site: www.teatromassimobellini.it General Information Ticket price: € 13 to € 90

Teatro Vittorio Emanuele, Messina
The Theater Vittorio Emanuele (called Sant'Elisabetta until 1861) was built in 1852 by a Neapolitan architect, Pietro Valente, who was assisted by a local architect, Carlo Falconieri. The sculptor Saro Zagari is the author of the friezes on the front facade and the group of sculptures on the pediment, allegorically representing “Time revealing Truth”. This building is one of the few in the city of neo classical architecture.

The earthquake of 1908 left the building seriously damaged, and the hall and stage (mostly wooden) were subsequently lost. In 1911, the rear section of the theater was extended, to create a small auditorium still in use today, and named after the local musician Antonio Laudamo.

The new theater, which retains the perimeter walls of the front section with the neo-classical stuccoes and decorations, was not reopened to the public until 1985. Inside, the ceiling is decorated with the "Legend of Colapesce" by Renato Guttuso.

Greek-Roman Theater, Tyndaris (Me)
Tyndaris, founded by Dyonisus in 396BC, was one of the last Greek colonies in Sicily. It was invaded by the Carthaginians led by Hannibal in 264BC and rebuilt by the Romans ten years later. The beauty of Tyndaris is still present in its ruins. The Greek-Roman theater with its spectacular setting over the Tyrrhenian Sea is used for shows and plays in the summertime.

Greek Theater, Syracuse
Syracuse was founded by the Greeks in 733BC. The rich remains of the Neapolis Archeological Area (UNESCO World Heritage Site), established in 1955, illustrate the great economic and cultural importance of the city in the past. The spectacular Greek Theater is one of the most important ancient theaters in the world. The Istituto Italiano del Dramma Antico performs plays here every other year.

Greek Theater, Segesta (Tp)
Segesta was founded by the indigenous tribe of the Elymians. This archeological site with its Doric temple (430/420BC) and an amphitheater is one of the best preserved in the world. The temple is located on the top of a slope in a pristine countryside, away virtually from any modern construction. The amphitheater stands on the slopes of Monte Barbaro. A convenient shuttle service takes tourists to and from the amphitheater.

Greek-Roman Theater, Taormina (Me)
Taormina is Sicily's most renowned resort. Located in the province of Messina, it hosts a magnificent amphitheater with a breathtaking view of Mount Etna in the background. The theater, built by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC and remodeled by the Romans, is still used today and hosts the famous Taormina Film Festival. A much smaller Roman theater, the Odeon, is to be found near the Church of Santa Caterina.