The Rome Opera House, Teatro Dell'Opera di Roma is an absolute must be it for opera, ballet, or even just to visit the impressive building. Constructed originally as the Teatro Costanze in the 19th century, the Teatro Dell'Opera is home of both an orchestra and a ballet company as well as the opera which is performed both in the opera house and from time to time at other location, for example the Baths of Caracalla where in the summer the opera company performs its pieces. The original theartre undertook a major revamp in 1926 when it became known as the Royal Opera House, only to have a further name change with the fall of the monarchy and extensive remodeling in 1958 when it became the Teatro dell'Opera. Marcello Piacentini oversaw the renovations with breathtaking and daring innovations making drastic changes to the original architecture and designing the faade that is seen today.



Accessible via the A line metro and a short walk, the opera house is situated in the vicinity of a good selection of bars and restaurants making the possibility of a full night very easy and straightforward. In terms of a dress code, there are no strict rules and as in many things the Italians are quite laid back, but as you may expect they are also mostly very well dressed and pulling out all the stops with black tie would certainly not leave you feeling overdressed. Equally, dinning in any of the near by restaurants is equally acceptable in full evening dress as in jeans.

Tickets usually cost between $33 and $250 for an opera or ballet, with the opening nights obviously comprising the higher end of these ticket options. Although you can get a 10% discount if you book on the day, it is generally advised to book your ticket ahead of time to avoid disappointment. One of the wonderful things about the Rome Opera House is the initiatives they run for encouraging of continued interest in the arts. Students, young people and pensioners are all eligible for half price tickets making it a very egalitarian institution. However everyone should know that the majority of seating is in boxes without allocated seats, so getting there as early as possible is advantageous in order to get the best of the choice.

The public transport system in Rome is adequate but somewhat fraying on the nerves and so being able to walk comfortably is an advantage. That being said, taxis are no worse than anywhere else and having to take one after a performance or a long day may be the difference between a just enough day, and an exhausting day. Hotels for the most part are not cheap in Rome and you should be weary of anything that looks too good to be true it probably is. You should expect to pay around 80 Euros per night for a 2 star hotel.