Italy Guide
Campania
Teatro San Carlo
Opening time: daily 9am–7pm
Price: €5
The Teatro San Carlo is an oddly unimpressive building from the outside. But inside you can see why this theatre was the envy of Europe when it opened in 1737 in time for Charles of Bourbon's birthday, for whom it was built. Destroyed by fire in 1816 and quickly rebuilt, it's one of the largest opera houses in Italy and one of the most distinguished in the world. Tours take in the auditorium itself, backstage areas and the dressing rooms of the principal singers.