Teatro dell’Opera di Roma

It is functional and Fascist-era outside, but the interior of Rome’s premier opera house – all plush red and gilt – is a stunning surprise. This theatre has an impressive history: it premiered Puccini’s Tosca, and Maria Callas sang here. Built in 1880, it was given a Fascist makeover in the 1920s. Contemporary productions don’t always match the splendour of the setting, but you may get lucky. Tickets for the ballet cost anywhere between €13 and €65; for the opera you’ll be forking out between €30 and €140. First-night performances cost more. From July to mid-August, performances shift outdoors to the monumental setting of the old Roman baths, the Terme di Caracalla.