Teatro della Pergola

A great night out that's steeped in tradition
Word to the wise: To avoid disappointment, you can order your tickets early either online or over the phone. Advance booking fees vary from EUR 1-3.

Noteworthy for: The Pergola Theatre hosts the excellent annual Maggio Musicale Fiorentino opera festival. It started in 1933 and prides itself on presenting contemporary and forgotten operas.
The first performance considered opera, Jacopo Peri's now lost Dafne, was produced in Florence, so its little wonder the city is home to the oldest opera theatre in Italy. Built in 1656 under Gian Carlo de' Medici, the Teatro della Pergola has premiered everything from Donizetti’s ‘Rosmonda d'Inghilterra’ to Verdi’s ‘Macbeth’ during the last 350 years, and was one of Mozart’s favoUrite theatres.

It's easy to understand why. The ornate 1,500-seat Sala Grande auditorium boasts high-vaulted ceilings, red velvet furnishings and intricately carved balconies, making it one of the most beautiful venues in Italy.

Today, the Pergola holds over 250 high quality drama productions a year (there's only opera during the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino festival) with tickets available for as little as EUR 15, making an unforgettable night out in Florence fabulously affordable.