Teatro Traetta, Opera house in Bitonto, Italy.

Teatro Traetta is the main theatre of Bitonto, on the edge of the historic centre facing Largo Teatro Umberto, its rear wall coinciding with the town walls toward Piazza Marconi. Built in the Italian horseshoe form, it has three tiers of boxes plus a gallery, a stalls area and a 9x7-metre stage, with 246 seats in all.

Construction began in 1835 after 21 notable Bitonto families funded a theatre, with land donated by doctor Serafino Ambruosi and permission from King Ferdinand II. Designed by Neapolitan architect Antonio Niccolini and built by the Sannicandro brothers for 8,500 ducats, it opened on 15 April 1838 with Donizetti's Parisina, the first permanent theatre in the province of Bari. After closing in 1950 and a ceiling collapse in 1972, restoration began in 1998 and it reopened on 16 April 2005.

The theatre is named after Bitonto-born composer Tommaso Traetta, a dedication decided by the city council when the venue reopened in 2005. Its name changed repeatedly over time: Teatro Privato, Teatro Nuovo, Teatro Ferdinandeo and Teatro Umberto I. The 2005 reopening was marked by Il Cavaliere Errante, an opera eroicomica in two acts from 1778.

The theater sits in central Bitonto at Largo Teatro 17 and is easily accessible on foot. It is wise to check ahead for performance schedules, as programming varies by season.

The theater played a central role in regional arts life during the 1800s and stands as proof of this small town's cultural importance. Today it maintains that tradition and remains an active venue for classical music and contemporary theater productions.