Teatro Politeama

Teatro Politeama is an opera house in central Palermo, standing on Piazza Ruggero Settimo with a triumphal arch made of pale stone. A bronze quadriga showing Apollo and Euterpe crowns the arch, visible across the square.

The building was designed by Giuseppe Damiani Almeyda in 1867 and opened seven years later with an opera by Bellini. Construction continued until 1891, when the facade and interior decoration were finally completed.

The name honors Giuseppe Garibaldi, whose memory lives on in the two-tiered loggia and gilded details throughout the auditorium. Locals attend classical concerts here, filling the hall with its warm wood and red velvet.

The entrance faces the busy square and is easy to reach on foot from the old town center. Visitors find performance information on boards in front of the arch or inside the foyer during opening hours.

In its early years the hall held up to 5,000 spectators and used daylight for afternoon performances through large windows. Later the capacity was reduced to 950 seats to improve acoustics for orchestral music.

Location: Palermo

Inception: 1874

Architects: Giuseppe Damiani Almeyda

Official opening: 1874

Capacity: 950

Address: Piazza Ruggero Settimo, 15

Website: https://orchestrasinfonicasiciliana.it/it/fondazione-oss/il-politeama-garibaldi

GPS coordinates: 38.12500,13.35667

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26