Teatro Massimo

This sprawling neoclassical opera house is one of Europe's largest (clocking in after Vienna's and Paris'). Naturally its history is full of drama and strife: it originally took more than twenty years to build, and between 1974 and 1997, it was shuttered for ongoing renovations that were stalled due to a mess of political infighting and Mafia-influenced corruption. Today, this marvel of neoclassical style has an auditorium lined with velvet-clad boxes. You can take guided tours of the theater but best to get tickets for an opera or ballet to get the full effect. Anyone who has seen The Godfather III will remember the final scenes filmed here, including poisoned cannolis and a dying Sofia Coppola.