Written by / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department
For travelers who love cultural and artistic activities, one of the must-visits when traveling abroad is local opera houses and other performance venues. In addition to the captivating performances, the theaters themselves are stunning sights to behold. Beyond the Sydney Opera House, there are many other opera houses around the world that are worth visiting, waiting for travelers to discover their beauty in person.
Opera houses themselves are a travel sight worth savoring in detail. (Image source / commons.wikimedia.org)
France — Palais Garnier (Image provided / Moleskine Editorial Department)
In 1862, Napoleon III (Napoléon Ⅲ, 1808–1873) chose this site to build an opera house. At the time, the then-unknown 35-year-old architect Charles Garnier won the project. Using materials such as marble and bronze, it took 14 years to complete in 1875. Its interior decorations and exterior architecture are extremely luxurious. The opera house was named “Garnier.” The grand copper dome weighs a thousand tons, and the large archway guards its entrance, exuding great grandeur. Stepping inside, you’re immediately drawn to the magnificent staircase. The marble staircase shines even brighter under golden lighting — it’s said to have been polished by the skirts of noblewomen of the time, showing just how bustling the opera house was back then. Want to experience walking up the grand staircase like the ladies of high society? First, purchase a ticket to enter the opera house museum. After admiring the staircase, you can enter the opera corridors from both sides. These corridors were used by audiences for socializing during intermissions, and their exquisite and spectacular design is no less impressive than the grand staircase.
Germany — Margravial Opera House (Image source / upload.wikimedia.org)
The late Baroque-style Margravial Opera House is located in Bayreuth, Germany, and is one of the few fully preserved theaters from Europe’s Baroque period. It has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list due to its demonstration of human creativity and its representation of important architectural periods, landscapes, and techniques in human history.
Japan — National Noh Theatre (Image source / www.6-kou.com)
The National Noh Theatre in Tokyo, Japan, is a venue dedicated to performing Noh theater. The Noh stage in the main hall uses 400-year-old hinoki cypress wood for the flooring, and the fan-shaped audience seating surrounds the stage, presenting a traditional Japanese architectural style rich in Japanese aesthetics.
UK — Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (Image source / double-barrelledtravel.com)
Most of Shakespeare’s works were performed at the Globe Theatre in the 17th century, but the original Globe was destroyed by fire in 1613 during a performance of “Henry VIII.” Four hundred years later, a new Shakespeare's Globe Theatre was rebuilt not far from the original site. The design, construction methods, and materials used in the new theater aim to closely resemble the original, primarily using bricks and timber, giving it a strong sense of antiquity. The Shakespeare plays performed here follow the style of the Elizabethan era, using natural light instead of stage lighting, with very simple stage backdrops and minimal decoration. There is no barrier between the stage and the audience, allowing the spectators to fully integrate with the drama — offering a very unique and traditional theatrical experience reminiscent of the past.
Brazil — Amazon Theatre (Image source / www.redeamazonica.com.br)
The Amazon Theatre in Brazil is most captivating for its architectural exterior — a European-style main structure paired with a Brazilian-style roof, creating a striking contrast that has become a defining feature of the theater.
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