Theater Apollon, Syros, Opera house in Ermoupolis, Greece

Theater Apollon is an opera house in Ermoupoli, the capital of the island of Syros, Greece. The hall features red velvet seats, a vaulted ceiling painted with classical poets and composers, and a small museum on the upper floor displaying historical programs and stage objects.

The city council voted unanimously on 30 October 1861 to build a theatre and club on the central square, with costs estimated at 60,000 drachmas. Construction began in late 1862 to designs by Pietro Sampò, then architect to the municipality, and the theatre opened on 20 April 1864 with Verdi's Rigoletto before an Italian company. In April 1866 it passed to the Greek Hellenic Drama Society, and repairs followed in 1874, 1881, 1890 and 1896.

The theatre's name comes from Apollo, and its ceiling painting shows poets and composers around the central chandelier. Since 2002 a memory room has held posters and costumes from past productions. It now stages the Aegean Festival, the Animasyros animation festival and the International Cycladic Classical Music Festival.

The theater stands on Plateia Ioanni Vardaka, a small square just off the main Plateia Miaouli, and is reached on foot through Ermoupoli's center. The building seats 350 people, and since 2002 a memory room with posters and costumes has been open inside. The program of concerts, festivals and performances changes through the year, so check what is on before setting out.

The building was modeled after four different Italian opera houses, including La Scala in Milan. The very first performance given here on opening night was Verdi's Rigoletto, a detail that is still often mentioned with pride by locals.