Italian Opera Holidays

Rome’s most celebrated opera house is Teatro dell’Opera, which has been pulling in crowds for its extravagant performances since the 19th century. Operas often performed here include Puccini’s Tosca and Verdi’s La Traviata (first performed here back in 1853).

Teatro all Scala, or La Scala, in Milan is considered to be one of the leading opera houses in the world.

Venice’s Teatro La Fenice (‘The Phoenix’) transports you back to its heyday, when it hosted Italy’s most famous operatic premieres. Past performances include Madama Butterfly and Turandot.

Summer sees the Verona Opera Festival come to the city. The crowning jewel of Italy’s opera season, the festival runs from June until late August or early September, and hosts performances penned by some of the country’s most legendary composers. Held at Arena di Verona, the spectacular 1st-century Roman amphitheatre, every year the festival features the likes of La Traviata, Carmen and Aida.

The Puccini Festival is a prestigious opera event held in honour of Tuscany’s most famous son, composer Giacomo Puccini. Staged each summer in Torre del Lago’s Great Open Air Theatre, the festival hosts performances of some of the Puccini’s most famous works, including La Bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly.