Photo: Manuelarosi, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Historic theatre, 1667
Teatro Caio Melisso
Theatre in Spoleto, Italy
At a glance
- Type
- Historic theatre
- Period
- Early modern period, 1667
- Protection
- Italian national heritage
- Coordinates
- 42°44′08″ N, 12°44′19″ E
- Address
- Piazza del Duomo, 4, 06049 Spoleto
About
The Teatro Caio Melisso is an opera house located in Spoleto, Italy and it serves as the main venue for opera performances during the annual summer Festival dei Due Mondi.
The theatre has undergone several transformations and name changes since the late 17th century. The Teatro di Piazza del Duomo, also known as the Teatro della Rosa, built around 1667 was modernized in 1749 and re-opened in 1749 as the Nuovo Teatro di Spoleto. After an 1817 restoration and after Rossini had visited the theatre, it gradually fell into disuse and a new theatre was needed by the mid-19th century. The 800-seat Teatro Nuovo was built between 1854 and 1864 at considerable public expense.
However, and in spite of the Nuovo, the old theatre was preserved and renovated once more with a new design and layout. Now renamed the Teatro Caio Melisso after a Spoletan writer, it re-opened in 1880 as a 350-seat, 3 levels of boxes plus a gallery opera house.
The fact that two opera theatres existed brought Gian-Carlo Menotti, the Festival's founder and director, to the town since Menotti felt that Spoleto offered many attractions. The first festival was held in 1958.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Teatro Caio Melisso».
Timeline
- 1667Built
- 1880Opened
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
SpoletoTrain, nearest
1.4 km as the crow flies
Teatro Caio MelissoPiazza del Duomo, 4, 06049 Spoleto
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore historic theatres in Umbria
- UNESCO
Frequently asked questions
Where is Teatro Caio Melisso?
Teatro Caio Melisso is in Spoleto, in the province of Perugia (Umbria), Italy. Address: Piazza del Duomo, 4, 06049 Spoleto. GPS coordinates: 42.73554, 12.73856.
How old is Teatro Caio Melisso?
Wikidata dates it to 1667.
What else is there to see near Teatro Caio Melisso?
Nearby you’ll find: 6 o'clock theatre Luca Ronconi (100 m away), Casa Menotti (100 m away), Museo diocesano di Spoleto (100 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 8 photos
- Teatro Caio Melisso di Spoleto — Manuelarosi, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Retro del Teatro Caio Melisso di Spoleto — Manuelarosi, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Santa Maria della Manna d'Oro1 — Manuelarosi, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Spoleto - Chiesa della Manna d'Oro - 2023-09-19 22-06-02 001 — Albarubescens, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Spoleto - Chiesa della Manna d'Oro - 2023-09-21 10-29-53 001 — Albarubescens, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Spoleto aprile 2022 f06 — Marcok/itwiki, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Spoleto, Contrafforti, Teatrino delle sei — Manuelarosi, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Spoleto4 — Manuelarosi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences