The Teatro Petruzzelli is among the largest theatres in Italy. It has developed a reputation for breathing new life into forgotten productions, which made the theatre particularly famous in the 1980s. Attend symphony, opera and ballet performances in the majestic setting of this world-famous theatre.
Admire the imposing red façade embellished by three white entryways. Sculptures of lions and human figures front the large silver dome on top of the building.
Embrace the culture of Italy with a trip to the opera. Shows are performed in the original language and have subtitles in Italian. Certain tourism operators offer guides for your show with context and explanations in English.
Marvel at the majesty of the theatre’s interior, with its sea of red seats flanked by tiers of ornate golden balconies. Find out about the theatre’s penchant for disregarded works, most notably putting on Niccolò Piccinni’s Iphigénie en Tauride for the first time since 1781.
The extraordinary building has an equally fascinating history. It was completed at the turn of the 19th century and its first production was Les Huguenots in 1903. Many international celebrities have performed here, including Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and Liza Minnelli. The theatre was completely destroyed by a fire in 1991 and rebuilt in 2008 before officially reopening the following year.
Get swept up in the glamour of the occasion and dress up for opening night at the opera.
Purchase tickets from the box office. Discounts are available for students, seniors and people under the age of 18. The box office is open Monday through Saturday between late morning and evening.
Find the Teatro Petruzzelli near the old port in the centre of Bari. It is situated to the northeast of the Piazza Umberto I and the Aldo Moro University of Bari. Walk northeast from Bari Centrale train station for about 10 minutes to get to the theatre.
