Thousands of people pass by one particular building in Rome every day on their way to or from the main train station at Roma Termini.

Some take pictures of it, non immediately recognizing what it is, while others get closer and notice the show listings… but few truly know its history and significance! And yet, the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma is one of Europe’s great opera houses and has hosted world premieres that have gone down in music history.

Of course, when it comes to Italian opera, the names that first come to mind are usually La Scala in Milan or the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. The latter, founded in 1737, is considered the oldest opera house still in operation in the world!

Paradoxically, the Rome Opera House suffers from the fact that it is… in Rome: in a city that boasts world-class sites like the Colosseum, the Vatican, and the Trevi Fountain, even a theater of excellence struggles to stand out in the tourist narrative.

You might hear people talk about a “Costanzi Theater” in Rome and not be able to locate it on a map. This is because the capital’s Teatro dell’Opera actually has two names, and “the Costanzi” is the more informal and affectionate one. This second name is due to Domenico Costanzi, a businessman active in the city during the 19th century: he wanted to give Rome a theater dedicated to opera and ballet, which was finally inaugurated on November 27, 1880, a ceremony that was attended by the King of Italy at that time!

We mentioned the famous operas that premiered on this stage: for example, Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana, in 1890. Not to mention Puccini’s Tosca, in 1900: no one will fail to notice the poetic irony that that legendary premiere took place in the very city where the opera is set. Puccini was a devoted supporter of the Teatro dell’Opera, and he chose to set here the premieres of the Gianni Schicchi (of  “O mio babbino caro…” fame) and La Fanciulla del West.

Other famous figures have also graced this stage: above all, the great Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev and famed Italian ballerina Carla Fracci, who also served as director of the Costanzi Ballet Company from 2000 to 2010.

One of the most interesting feature of the Opera House in Roma is that it essentially has two distinct identities. The winter season—which runs from November to around June—takes place mainly at the Teatro Costanzi and  nearby Teatro Nazionale, with a program that alternates between works from the great operatic repertoire (Verdi, Puccini, and so on) and classical and contemporary ballets, symphonic concerts, and more experimental productions.

In the summer, however, the Teatro dell’Opera does something that few theaters in the world can afford: every year, between July and August, it moves the entire season outdoors, to the archaeological complex of the Baths of Caracalla. The first summer season dates back as far as 1937!

In this setting, opera, classical music, and dance performances alternate with more modern concerts by artists who belong more to the realm of singer-songwriters than to opera proper.

In 2026, however, there will be a change of venue: from June 29 to July 31, while the Baths of Caracalla undergo restoration work, the Costanzi’s summer season will take place at the Circus Maximus, with capacity increasing to approximately 6,000 seats to accommodate a larger audience in ancient Rome’s largest performance venue. Tickets, ranging from 15 to 170 euros, are already on sale on the theater’s

official website

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Some people think that entry to the Costanzi is limited only to those attending one of its performances, but this is not the case: for some time now, it has been possible to tour the theater even outside of ballet or concert times. The theater’s website has a dedicated page explaining the details and customization options for the tours, which start at very affordable prices considering the exclusivity of the venue: 70 euros. More information is .

The Teatro dell’Opera is located in Piazza Beniamino Gigli, just a few minutes from Termini Station and the Baths of Diocletian. The nearest subway stop is Repubblica (Line A).