In this video, I am at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, Sicily.
It is located in the Piazza Giuseppe Verdi section of Palermo. It is located right off Via Maqueda, a pedestrian area in Palermo that features numerous pubs, restaurants, bars, cafes, and more.
Many are surprised to learn that the Teatro Massimo is the largest opera house in all of Italy. The largest one in Europe is located in Paris, France. The second largest in Europe is located in Vienna, Austria.
Giovan Battista Filippo Basile designed the theater starting in 1874. His son completed the design after his death. They completed the theater in 1897, and then it opened to the public.
The design is similar to that of the Greek ruins located in the southern part of Sicily, in the town of Agrigento.
The theater closed from 1974 to 1997 to comply with new safety regulations that went into effect at that time. Political infighting, scandals, and corruption caused delays for 23 years.
Palermo is fortunate to have another renowned theater, the Teatro Politeama. It is about a 10-minute walk from Teatro Massimo. Teatro Politeama performed theater during the time Teatro Massimo was closed for those 23 years.
Ties to The Godfather Movie
If you are an aficionado of the famous Godfather movies, the scene at the end of the third sequel was shot on the steps of the opera house.
To get to Teatro Massimo:
It is easy to get to Teatro Massimo if you visit Palermo. Starting from Quattro Canti, considered the main historical center of Palermo, walk away from the Piazza Pretoria. It will take you approximately 10 minutes to walk along Via Maqueda. This road is a pedestrian-only area of Palermo.
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The image below is of the Teatro Massimo in Palermo.
