The outside of Teatro La Fenice
Originally, it was the San Benedetto Theatre. Unfortunately, the San Benedetto burnt down in 1774. When it was rebuilt, three major changes occurred: its name, who ran the theater, and its location.
One of the first things that they tell you on the tour is that "La Fenice" means "the Phoenix." It was given this name in reference to how a phoenix rises from the ashes (in this case, the ashes of the 1774 fire). The main lobby/ground floor of the theater is painted blue, pink, and gold to represent the various colors of the Phoenix and their meanings.
Perhaps its just bad luck, or perhaps they cursed it with the name, but Teatro La Fenice burnt down again in 1836 and 1996. After the 1996 fire, they worked 24/7 to rebuild and restore the theater to its original glory. It was completed in 2003.
The tour begins in the foyer. It's a self-guided audio tour that tells you of the theater's history, how "going to the opera" evolved as an event over time, and about the decorations. Then you move upstairs and get to sit in the royal box of the theater. Forming a circular shape, there are various levels of identical seating boxes. Decorated on the outside with gold leaf, paint, and statues. The ceiling was painted to give the illusion of being a dome (but alas, it is flat). The stage is a masterpiece with a gilded frame and the curtains are a fireproof dark green velvet.
The royal box itself is an artistic masterpiece done completely in gold and red. It also has a mirror to either side to give the illusion that it goes on forever. Over the course of the theater's history, the royal box was taken out, put back in, changed, and more as the rulers of Italy/Venice changed.
Two of the coolest aspects of the actual theater are the orchestra pit and the seating. In order to most efficiently regulate the heat and air in the building, there is a vent under each individual seat. The orchestra pit is on a moving platform so that it can sink for theatrical performances and rise in the case of an instrumental performance.
The tour finishes up by showing the original model for Teatro La Fenice (including the water entrance where nobility would arrive by gondola) and the Apollinee rooms (named after Apollo). The Apollinee rooms are adjacent to the theater and consist of meeting rooms, a cafe, and a ballroom. The walls have been upholstered and around the upper molding you can see pieces of the original theaters that survived the fires (the difference in color makes this evident). Small pieces of frescoes also remained over the years.
Part of the old water entrance to the opera house.
It looks exactly like the original model that they show you on the tour.
Unfortunately, photography is not allowed inside the building (so sad, I know!), but here's the picture that they put on their main advertising cards around Venice. If you ever visit the city, I'd definitely say check it out.
The coloring here definitely mutes the in person splendor of the theater.
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