The largest opera house in Italy and the steps of The Godfather
Inaugurated in 1897 after more than twenty years of work, the Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele in Palermo is the largest opera house in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. Designed by Giovan Battista Filippo Basile and completed by his son Ernesto, it is a grand neoclassical temple with a monumental flight of steps guarded by two bronze lions.
Inside, the horseshoe auditorium has five tiers of boxes and a ceiling that opens like the petals of a flower for ventilation. The guided tours show the auditorium, the royal box and the Pompeian Room, designed with special acoustics. Film fans will recognise the steps where the final scene of The Godfather Part III was shot.
Tip: the best way to experience it is to attend an opera or a concert; tours run every day, also in English.
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