The Teatro di San Carlo is the oldest continuously active venue for public opera in the world. It is located in Naples, Italy and opened in 1737. The auditorium boasts a horseshoe-shaped floor plan with no less than 180 boxes. In 1810, the King of Naples ordered a politically motivated refurbishment to assert his rule. The designer, Niccolini, gave the theatre a new austere façade with neo-antique arcades, and five bas-relief panels representing the principal mythological figures, from Orpheus to Apollo. Originally deep blue, it became red and gold after yet another refurbishment due to a huge fire in 1854. The theatre’s opera season runs from late January to May, and the ballet season runs from April to early June. Take this into consideration when planning your visit.