Bologna's Best Theatres For Opera, Music and Ballet

Looking for a memorable evening out in Bologna? Well, look no further because we've got the inside scoop on the best theatres in town, and they're bound to leave you with memories that'll last a lifetime.

First up, we've got the Teatro Comunale, right in the heart of the university area, overlooking Piazza Verdi.
It's Bologna's opera house, where highbrow culture meets lively student nightlife.

The theatre itself is a historical gem, dating back to 1763.
It's a grandiose baroque monument designed by Antonio Galli Bibiena.
With its massive stalls and four tiers of boxes, it used to fit 1500 people.

Teatro Comunale is a true spectacle, and its productions of opera and classical ballets will whisk you away to another world.

Fun fact: this theatre hosted the Italian premiere of 5 of Wagner's operas between 1870 and 1914.

Info

Largo Respighi, 1, 40126 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 529078

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If the opera and classical stuff seem too much for your taste, consider heading over to the Teatro Duse.

They dish out quality shows from the contemporary and mostly 20th-century repertoire.

The place has a long history of hosting performances, going back to the 17th century when Jesuit college had sacred representations there.

In the 19th century, they even did circus and puppet shows!
After a series of facelifts, the theatre transformed into its modern and rational self in the 1940s.

Info

Via Cartoleria, 42, 40124 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 231836

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The Arena del Sole will welcome you in via Indipendenza under the sign "place given to daytime shows".

Originally created in 1810 as an open-air theatre for summer shows, from 1916 it was equipped with prefabricated structures that allowed shows to be held even in winter and was used as a cinema after the Second World War.

The winter programming offers classic and contemporary prose shows, but also musicals and experiments, while in the summer the cloister opens for aperitivo and shows.

Info

Via dell'Indipendenza, 44, 40121 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 291 0910

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If you're in search of avant-garde and experimental performances, look no further than Teatri di Vita, within the enchanting Parco dei Pini.

Teatri di Vita boasts an enticing lineup of both awe-inspiring and enlightening activities.

In recent years, Teatri di Vita has expanded its program to include distinct sections dedicated to music and cinema.

They produce theatre and dance performances under their own banner.
However, they also champion groundbreaking film projects and manage a department focused on cutting-edge communication and new media initiatives.

Info

Via Emilia Ponente, 485, 40132 Bologna
Tel. +39 333 466 6333

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Since the early 1980s, La Baracca has managed a dedicated children's theater in Bologna.

They produce shows, workshops, and cultural activities for children, teenagers, parents, and teachers.

Their shows at Teatro Testoni are exclusively for children and teenagers, from nursery to high school. They focus on actors' theatre, original storytelling, and creating wonder through simplicity.

So if you're looking for activities to do in Bologna with kids, Teatro Testoni and La Baracca have to be on your list.

Info

Via Giacomo Matteotti, 16, 40129 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 415 3700

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Teatro Mazzacorati's theater is a unique Bolognese aristocratic gem, with a mysterious past due to war destruction.

It was initiated in 1761 by Gianfrancesco Marescotti, an amateur actor. The theater has 200 seats, a deep stage, and 24 enigmatic sirens that support the balconies.

It was a hub for aristocratic amateur theater in the 18th century.

The Mazzacorati family's coat of arms marks both the villa's facade and the theater's proscenium arch. Structural changes and restorations have altered both over the years.

Today, you can visit Teatro Mazzacorati by appointment, during cultural events and tours organized by associations.

Info

Via Toscana, 19, 40141 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 284 0436

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