Manoel Theatre, Opera house and theatre from 1732 in Valletta, Malta
The Manoel Theatre contains an oval-shaped auditorium with three tiers of wood-crafted boxes decorated in gold leaf and accommodates 623 seats.
Grand Master Fra António Manoel de Vilhena commissioned the construction of Teatro Pubblico in 1731, which later became Teatro Reale and finally Manoel Theatre.
The inaugural performance at the theatre presented Scipione Maffei's tragedy Merope on January 9, 1732, featuring actors from the Knights of St John.
The venue maintains regular programming throughout the year, offering theatrical productions, operas, musical recitals, poetry events, and guided tours.
This Grade 1 building stands as Europe's third-oldest operational theatre and the oldest functioning theatre in the Commonwealth of Nations.
Location: Valletta
Inception: 1732
Official opening: 1732
Capacity: 623
Address: 115 Old Theatre Street VLT 1426 VLT 1426
Phone: +35621222618
Website: http://teatrumanoel.com.mt
GPS coordinates: 35.89983,14.51282
Latest update: May 12, 2025 01:27
Malta combines thousands of years of history with varied coastal landscapes across a compact island area of 122 square miles (316 square kilometers). The capital Valletta contains major structures including the Co-Cathedral of St. John with its Caravaggio paintings, the National Museum of Archaeology, and the 18th-century Manoel Theatre. The city displays baroque architecture and military installations from the Knights of Malta period. The Neolithic temple complexes rank among the world's oldest freestanding stone structures. Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra near Qrendi date from around 3600 to 3200 BC, while the Ġgantija temples on Gozo are even older. The Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum in Paola is an underground necropolis with multiple chambers. The Tarxien temples show decorated stone blocks and reliefs. The coastline offers different formations: the Dingli Cliffs reach 830 feet (253 meters) in height, while the Blue Grotto near Qrendi features sea caves with turquoise water. The Blue Lagoon on Comino has shallow, clear water. Golden Bay near Mellieħa is a sandy beach. Fort Rinella in Kalkara preserves an 1884 Armstrong gun. The medieval town of Mdina and the Citadel in Victoria on Gozo display fortress architecture from different periods.
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