Genoa's opera house occupies the site of the original 1828 theatre that was bombed in 1944. The rebuilding — completed in 1991 to designs by Aldo Rossi and Ignazio Gardella — grafted a modernist glass tower onto the surviving neoclassical facade, a decision that divided opinion sharply. The interior is functional but cold; the exterior, facing Piazza De Ferrari, works better, the portico integrating with the square.
The theatre puts on a serious opera season from October to June, with occasional visiting companies. Ticket prices are reasonable by Italian standards and the acoustics are excellent despite the difficult rebuilding. Check the programme at the box office — this is a serious cultural institution that Genoa takes considerable pride in.