Teatro Mercadante

The Teatro Mercadente was originally called the Teatro del Fondo, named after the military society that built it in 1778 with the confiscated proceeds of the dissolved Jesuit order. Dedicated specifically to opera, it played an active role in the political and cultural changes introduced by the Partenopean Republic in 1799. With the Restoration, it regained its operatic function when it welcomed musicians such as Rossini, Bellini, Doninzetti and Verdi. In 1936 the ceiling was adorned with a painting in tempera by Francisco Galante called "Napoli Marinara". Today the theater offers a host of operatic and theatrical shows that please one and all. Check website for more details on current and upcoming events and exact show times. Besides the main theater, it also hosts the Sala Ridotto, a performance space for smaller productions.