Perched gracefully along the Adriatic coastline of Bari, Teatro Margherita stands as a striking emblem of the city’s cultural past and present. Once a theatre and cinema, now a revived museum and exhibition space, this elegant Liberty-style building rises from the sea on stilts, offering a unique fusion of architecture, history, and seaside charm. Its pastel façade, signature towers, and seaside setting make it immediately recognizable; inside, the layout and restored interior speak of ambition, innovation, and resilience. Visiting Teatro Margherita is more than a stop – it’s a journey through time, from Belle Époque grandeur to contemporary art, floating between land and sea. Short History of Teatro Margherita The Beginnings – From Wood to Concrete The story of Teatro Margherita begins with a predecessor: a wooden theatre named Varietà Margherita, opened on 5 October 1910. Built on the waterfront, that wooden structure was an early attempt to provide Bari with an entertainment venue distinct from the already established Teatro Petruzzelli. However, the Varietà Margherita had a tragically short life – just months later, in the early hours of 22 July 1911, it was destroyed by a violent fire that razed the building within an hour. Though the cause Read more [...]
All Theaters in Bari
The Teatro Petruzzelli is Bari’s leading opera house and one of its principal cultural landmarks. Its history includes major opera, ballet, and concert performances featuring internationally renowned artists. A devastating fire destroyed the theatre in October 1991; after extensive reconstruction, it reopened in 2009 and again became the principal home of Bari’s opera and concert seasons.
The waterfront Teatro Margherita, built between 1912 and 1914 on pillars over the sea, is now primarily an exhibition and cultural space. Older still is the Teatro Piccinni, inaugurated in 1854 on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and named after composer Niccolò Piccinni. Together, the three buildings document different stages in Bari’s theatrical history.
Teatro Petruzzelli
Teatro Petruzzelli is the largest theater in Bari and the fourth largest in Italy. Owned until the fire of 1991 by the Messeni Nemagna family, the theater is currently being disputed between the City of Bari and the previous owners. SHORT HISTORY In 1896, the traders and ship builders Onofrio and Antonio Petruzzelli, originating from Trieste, presented to the Municipality of Bari the project of a new theater by the architect Angelo Cicciomessere, husband of their sister, Maria. Their proposal was accepted and, two years later, in 1898, the work began, financed exclusively by the Petruzzelli family. The theater was frescoed by Raffaele Armenise and decorated in pure gold. Also, the theater was equipped with heating and electric light, and it had a capacity of 2,192 seats. The works were completed in 1903, and the theater was inaugurated on February 14, 1903, with Les Huguenots by the German opera composer Giacomo Meyerbeer. In addition to operas and ballets, important concerts were held at the Petruzzelli Theater. Over time, many great artists performed on its stage: Herbert von Karajan, Rudolf Nureyev, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Liza Minnelli and Luciano Pavarotti. On the night of October 27, 1991, the theater was Read more [...]