'One Of The Most Famous And Renowned Landmarks' In Italian Theater History Is A Legendary Venice Gem

The floating city of Venice has long lured travelers for its beautiful architecture, rich art history, and iconic gondolas puttering through the lagoon. Among its greatest architectural triumphs is the Teatro La Fenice, considered "one of the most famous and renowned landmarks in the history of Italian theatre and in the history of opera as a whole" according to the local Corte di Gabriela Luxury Botique Hotel.

The theater was originally built in the late 18th century after the Teatro San Benedetto, once Venice's leading opera house, burned down. La Fenice translates to "phoenix" in Italian, and the name signifies the theater's rebirth. Throughout the second half of the 19th century, the star of Teatro La Fenice was Giuseppe Verdi, who was commissioned by the opera house to compose five operas, including "Rigoletto" and "La Traviata." Unfortunately, arsonists were suspected to have set Teatro La Fenice on fire in 1996, and everything was destroyed except the facade and walls. The grand institution finally rose from the ashes again when it was rebuilt and reopened in 2003. Today, travelers can tour Teatro La Fenice's extravagantly gilded theater or sit in one of its 1,000 seats for a performance. And as the city of Venice is slowly sinking, Rick Steves recommends visiting this mesmerizing city while you still can.

Teatro La Fenice is situated in the heart of Venice in the district of San Marco. It is located about a 15-minute drive from Venice's Marco Polo International Airport. You can visit the opera house for self-guided tours daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. or attend one of the theater's operas, concerts, or ballets.

While there are many romantic things to do in Venice, a performance at Teatro La Fenice should absolutely not be missed. The world-famous theater showcases Italian operatic masterpieces, including Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca" and Gioachino Rossini's "The Barber of Saville." Viewing an opera in the gilded glamour of La Fenice, which helped develop the art of opera in the 18th century, is a truly special experience. For opening night of the opera season in November, formal wear including black tie is required. 

Beyond opera, Teatro La Fenice's orchestra performs spectacular symphonies from composer greats like Ludwig van Beethoven and Frédéric Chopin. The theater also hosts international troupes to perform ballets such as the Hamburg Ballet's "Romeo and Juliet." If you can't make it to a show, it is worth just exploring the lavish theater on your own. The place was rebuilt to look like it had before the 1996 fire, with gilded box suites, a painted ceiling, and red velvet seats. "This is one of the most wonderful places I saw in Venice," raved one Tripadvisor reviewer. They praised the audio guide, which was included with their ticket price.

If you are staying in Venice for a few days, consider a stay at Hotel San Moise, an enchanting hotel perfectly located for city exploring and close to La Fenice. While the city brims with magnificent and world-famous wonders, a longer stay allows for the discovery of lesser-known gems like this magnificent theater.