Entertainment
La Fenice
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Teatro La Fenice is a historic opera house in Venice, Italy, known for its role in opera history, especially for premieres by Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi. Its name means 'The Phoenix Theatre,' reflecting its ability to rise from the ashes after three fires. The current building was rebuilt in 2003 after an arson fire in 1996, faithfully reconstructing the 19th-century interior.
Don't miss
- The neoclassical façade with a colonnade, featuring statues of the muses Melpomene and Terpsichore, and masks of Comedy and Tragedy.
- The theatre's insignia of a phoenix rising from flames, carved on the façade in 1837.
- The horseshoe-shaped auditorium with 170 identical boxes, rebuilt in 19th-century style with gilt decorations and stucco.
- The Sale Apollinee, which survived the 1836 fire and was partially destroyed in 1996, now restored.
- Commemorative stelae placed in the entrance.
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit La Fenice
You can visit on your own (Entry is paid). A tour adds transport and a guide, or combines nearby sights into one day.
Cheapest way inVenice Must See Attractions Walking Tour With A Guide4.7★ · 113 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$41 per personSee dates →
Best full dayVenice In a Day St Mark's Doges Palace Gondola Ride and City Tour4.8★ · 4,539 travelers4-6 hoursFrom$129 per personSee dates →
Top ratedVenice's Best: Basilica, Doge's Palace, Gondola & History Gallery4.7★ · 3,202 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$115 per personSee dates →Getting there
Know before you go
- La Fenice stages seasons of opera, ballet, and symphony, along with its second house, Teatro Malibran.
- The theatre faces Campo San Fantin, an open space, unlike most Venetian theatres.
A bit of history
La Fenice was built after the Noble Association of Box-holders lost its previous theatre, Teatro San Benedetto, in a legal dispute. The name symbolizes the association's rebirth. The first theatre opened in 1792. A fire in 1836 destroyed it, but it was rebuilt within a year. In 1996, arson destroyed the house again; reconstruction began in 2001 and the theatre reopened in 2003. The façade is the only element to survive both fires.
Common questions
Why is it called La Fenice?
The name means 'The Phoenix Theatre,' symbolizing the company's ability to rise from the ashes after losing its previous theatre and surviving fires.
What famous operas premiered here?
Premieres include Rossini's Tancredi and Semiramide, Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi and Beatrice di Tenda, and Verdi's Ernani, Attila, Rigoletto, La traviata, and Simon Boccanegra.
How was the 1996 fire started?
The fire was arson, set by two electricians who were later convicted. They appeared to have set the building ablaze because their company faced heavy fines over delays in repair work.
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