Teatro La Fenice — Attraction in Venice

I did not like multiple staff members. I went at 5:50pm and asked about the self guided tour. they say that the last admission is 6pm and that they are actually closed at 6:30 and the included audio guide is free and is 35 mins long. I bought my ticket and then the guy for the audio guide set asked for ID for each. we had no IDs and even if I did have my passport, I don't trust to leave my passport behind. they aren't putting it in a locker. any pickpocketer can easily swipe it from where they had other passports. I said I can leave our credit cards or cellphone as collateral and he says no, it's policy. I said can we have a refund and he says yes but cashier wouldn't give us refund. he says we can download it onto our phone app for the guide using their wifi. the 3 of us tried their wifi and took a long time to download, and noticed if we move to the chairs to wait for the download, it is actually slower the download speed. we took too long getting that working and going through the audio guide that is talking about the foyer. we then got to enjoy the main hall and then went to the special box where just as we sat down to hit the next button on the audio guide when another staff member ushered us out because he is closing that part first and for us to see the rest of the theatre. this was about 6:15pm, 15mins before the theatre closed. I went upstairs to see the rest of the theatre and saw nothing worth listening to the Audio guide anymore. I wanted to go back to the box to experience the loge better and they say it's closed. I said I was led to believe i had till 6:30 to enjoy the theatre and that I was the audio guide is 30 mins. he said I probably took longer in between the chapters of the audio guide -which I didn't. the theatre shouldn't sell tickets 30 mins before closing if the audio guide is longer, they shouldn't close off the main theatre part 15 mins early, or they should have said to me to skip the entrance part of the audio guide to not miss out on the loge box. they should try to download the app themselves and go through the audio guide themselves so they can see the correct pacing for when to close certain parts of the theatre. I wasn't the only ones rushed out. there were maybe 10 others rushed out...

Me and my partner went to the September 19th performance of La Cenerentola, and it was an amazing experience.

I come from a working-class family with a great appreciation for theater. When I made the travel plans for Venice, I told my partner we should splurge on the tickets for this theater because somehow I felt it could become magical.

Boy, did I underestimate it. The theater is absolutely incredible. I was in awe and felt totally underdressed in my capri pants and blue Italian cotton shirt. The show started at 19:00, but the doors opened at 18:30, which gave us enough time to admire the scenery. I really want to go on the tour, because the interior was a sight to behold. It felt like being dropped into a gorgeous costume drama. The staff were nice and polite and helped with every request. Even the toilets were clean and easy to find.

The performance itself was fantastic. Small note: during intermission the line for the bar was very long. I don’t know if you can order things beforehand, but I wish I had. Still, chatting with a kind Venetian lady in my broken Italian made up for it. Another issue was the floor seats and legroom. My partner and I are both about 1.83 meters tall and had to sit diagonally, otherwise my knees would poke the person in front of me. I don’t know how the stalls are, but on the floor it’s a squeeze.

One last thing, and this is not the theater’s fault. At first I felt out of place, but honestly it seemed like the place was filled with influencers. Before the show it was made crystal clear that filming was forbidden. Yet the amount of flashes, phones lighting up, and recording devices I saw was astonishing. The staff tried their best, but it was impossible to stop everyone. No offense, but are these people born in a barn? We weren’t in some saloon watching a burlesque show, this was La Fenice, with performers pouring their hearts out on stage. I mentioned earlier that I felt out of place, but in the end it was common theater courtesy that...

Teatro La Fenice is one of Venice’s most culturally significant landmarks and a must-visit for anyone interested in opera, history, or architecture. We visited on a self-guided tour with an audio guide included in the ticket price, which was €12 per person at the time of our visit. For the quality of the experience and the depth of information provided, it felt like excellent value.

The theatre is stunning. Stepping into the auditorium, with its gilded boxes, red velvet furnishings, and magnificent central chandelier, felt like stepping back in time. The atmosphere is rich with history and elegance, even when no performance is taking place.

The audio guide was informative and engaging, covering the theatre’s long and dramatic history. Originally inaugurated in 1792, La Fenice has lived up to its name—"The Phoenix"—having been destroyed by fire twice. The first fire occurred in 1836 and was followed by a swift reconstruction. The second, much more devastating fire happened in 1996, caused by arson. The damage was extensive, but after nearly a decade of careful restoration, the theatre reopened in 2003, rebuilt in line with its 19th-century appearance. The result is a faithful and beautiful restoration that honours its past while offering modern functionality.

The tour also includes access to side areas such as the royal box and small exhibition rooms with historical costumes, photographs, and artefacts from famous performances. It's a short visit—roughly 45 minutes to an hour—but provides a well-rounded understanding of La Fenice’s role in operatic and Venetian history.

I would highly recommend this experience, especially if you're visiting Venice outside of the performance season or prefer exploring at your own pace. Even without seeing a live show, the visit is memorable and meaningful. It’s a quiet and reflective space that contrasts nicely with the busier tourist attractions...