Teatro di San Carlo ★★

One of the world's top opera houses is in Naples

Teatro di San Carlo, Napoli

San Carlo is one of the oldest, largest, and most respected opera houses in Italy, built by Giovanni Medrano in 1737 under the auspices of Charles of Bourbon (who didn't particularly care for opera, but cared very much about his reputation as an enlightened patron of the arts).

The Teatro San Carlo opera house in NaplesAfter a fire in 1816, the theater was rebuilt by Antonio Niccolini—who, it is said, filled the walls with terra-cotta vases to help give the performance space what is still widely regarded as the best acoustics in Europe—and San Carlo reopened under the musical direction of Gioacchino Rossini.

The glittering chandeliers and sumptuous red velvet and gold accouterments of the vast interior—seating 3000 in six tiers of box seats—have seen the premiers of operas by Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti.

The original primadonnas
One of the greatest professional and social coups for a soprano in Europe is to be contracted by Naples' San Carlo opera house to sing as the first lady in the company. How do you say "first lady "in Italian? Why, prima donna, of course.
The Sancarlo has also hosted more than 250 years of Neapolitan society. While Neapolitans are indisputably lovers of great opera, that have traditionally attended the season at San Carlo more to see what everyone else is wearing this year—and for the gentlemen to play a between-acts round-robin of the private boxes occupied by unmarried ladies.

Tips & links

Details
ADDRESS

Via S. Carlo 98F/Piazza Trieste e Trento
tel. +39-081-797-2331
www.teatrosancarlo.it

OPEN

Pending for showtimes

Guided tours are offered:
Mon-Sat : 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30
Sunday: 10:30, 11:30, 12:30

ADMISSION

Guided Tours: €6

Order performance tickets:
Select Italy

TRANSPORT

Bus: C25, N1, N3, R1, R2; E6
Hop-on/hop-off: Largo Castello(A, B, C); Via Acton/Porto (B)

Opera season!

Opera season runs late January to May. Ballet season runs April to early June. Concerts run year-round.

Order performance tickets

Order tickets to a performance at Teatro San Carlo from Selectitaly.com

Tour of Teatro San Carlo
Naples tours
Useful links & resources

Share this page

Intrepid Travel 25% off

Search ReidsItaly.com

Details
★★
ADDRESS

Via S. Carlo 98F/Piazza Trieste e Trento
tel. +39-081-797-2331
www.teatrosancarlo.it

OPEN

Pending for showtimes

Guided tours are offered:
Mon-Sat : 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30
Sunday: 10:30, 11:30, 12:30

ADMISSION

Guided Tours: €6

Order performance tickets:
Select Italy

TRANSPORT

Bus: C25, N1, N3, R1, R2; E6
Hop-on/hop-off: Largo Castello(A, B, C); Via Acton/Porto (B)

TOURS
Nearby
SIGHTS
  • TK
PLACES TO EAT
  • TK
PLACES TO STAY
  • TK


Useful links
Train tix

Shortcuts to popular planning sections:

Airfares, Cars, Trains, Tours, Packages, Cruises, Lodging, Itineraries, Info, Packing, Prep, Comm

Follow ReidsItaly
Follow ReidsItaly on Twitter  Join the ReidsItaly fan page  Follow Reids Italy Adventures blog