In the historic center of Palermo, two theaters are located among the most important in Europe, the Teatro Massimo and Teatro Politeama. 

Both theaters were built in the eighteenth century.

THEATRE MASSIMO

The Massimo Theatre, located in Piazza Verdi, is considered among the most beautiful in Europe. The construction began in 1875 and designed by Giovan Battista Filippo Basile, and lasted twenty-two years. At the end of the nineteenth century, to continue the construction of the theater, it was necessary to demolish the walls of the Monastery of the Stigmata and the Monastery of St. Julian to make space for the great building. The theater was, last, inaugurated May 16, 1897, with the opera Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi.

The building is neo-classical style. Onto the magnificent grand exterior staircase you can see two major groups in bronze, The Lyric by sculptor Mario Rutelli and The Tragedy by sculptor Benedetto Civiletti and two lions. The upper of the building is dominated by a huge hemispherical dome. 

The room, horseshoe-shaped, with five tiers of boxes and gallery, has exactly 1,317 seats, which makes them one of the most capacious opera houses of Italy.

Since 1997, the theater hosts the official season, with operas, ballets and concerts.

THEATRE POLITEAMA

The Politeama, is located in Piazza Ruggero Settimo, in the center of Palermo. It was built in neo-classical style by the architect Giuseppe Damiani Almeyda. Work began in 1867 and ended in 1891.

In 1874, it was inaugurated, even if incomplete and still without coverage, the first performance was The Capuleti and The Montecchi by Vincenzo Bellini.