Teatro alla Scala Milan is Italy's most famous opera house. Photo: Ronan O'Connell
Teatro alla Scala Milan is Italy's most famous opera house. Photo: Ronan O'Connell
Teatro alla Scala Milan is Italy's most famous opera house. Photo: Ronan O'Connell
Teatro alla Scala Milan is Italy's most famous opera house. Photo: Ronan O'Connell

Unesco sites and sounds: Five opera houses to visit on your next trip to Italy


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A night at the Italian opera is a bucket-list experience for many tourists and Unesco recently safeguarded the ancient art form, including Italian opera singing on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage last month.

Dating back to the late 1500s, Italian opera singing is practised or taught by more than 30,000 people in Italy.

Each day, a new generation of students receive tutelage from operatic maestros. They learn not just exquisite control of vocal pitch, but also powerful projection that allows them to maximise the acoustics of venues such as churches, arenas, amphitheatres and, of course, those stunning, famous opera houses.

Here are five of the finest venues where you can enjoy this form of singing in Italy.

Teatro alla Scala, Milan

Teatro alla Scala Milan has one of the world's most photogenic interiors. Photo: Ronan O'Connell
Teatro alla Scala Milan has one of the world's most photogenic interiors. Photo: Ronan O'Connell

When first I visited Italy’s most famous opera house, I feared my camera was going to overheat. Such was the intense labour it went through in snapping my wife from every conceivable vantage point in what is one of the most photogenic interior spaces I’ve yet seen.

The blend of blood-red furnishings and gilded accents inside Milan’s 18th-century opera house is wonderfully ostentatious. Tourists all around us were taking just as many photos during one of the five daily English-language guided tours of the facility.

For $33 per person, we were led past its sublime foyer, royal box, orchestral pit, backstage area and museum, which is laden with artworks, images and artefacts. It explains how the Teatro alla Scala once all but disappeared. In 1943 it was badly damaged by Second World War bombing, but was rebuilt immediately after the war and continues to regularly present concerts, operas and stage shows.

Verona Arena, Verona

The 2,000-year-old Verona Arena resembles Rome's Colosseum. Photo: Ronan O'Connell
The 2,000-year-old Verona Arena resembles Rome's Colosseum. Photo: Ronan O'Connell

If Paris is the city of love, Verona is the city of romantic tragedy. This charming city in north-east Italy has become intertwined with Romeo & Juliet, a Shakespearian tale of love found and lost set in the timeworn streets that surround perhaps the country's most unique opera venue.

Whereas the other Italian opera houses I visited were meticulously maintained, Verona Arena is a crumbling, open-air amphitheatre that once was periodically splattered with blood. After it was built, almost 2,000 years ago, it regularly hosted violent gladiator battles. In recent centuries it has been a key venue for concerts, stage plays and operas.

All of which are even more dramatic set against the backdrop of this Unesco-listed structure, which is similar in appearance to the Colosseum in Rome. Built to accommodate up to 30,000 spectators, the arena is the main venue of the annual Verona Opera Festival, which runs from June to September this year. At other times, tourists can enter and wander the amphitheatre each day between 9am and 7pm.

Pavarotti-Freni Theatre, Modena

A statue of Pavarotti outside Modena's opera house. Photo: Ronan O'Connell
A statue of Pavarotti outside Modena's opera house. Photo: Ronan O'Connell

Like Verona, the small northern city of Modena has a unique identity, in its case due to being the birthplace of the luxury sports car brand, Ferrari. A short walk south of the impressive Enzo Ferrari museum is a magnificent venue named after another of this city’s greatest creations, opera legend Luciano Pavarotti.

Born in Modena in 1935, Pavarotti died in 2007 as perhaps the most famous singer in Italian history. Even now, his music lives on in his hometown, where tribute concerts are held for him each year. I was able to watch him in full vocal flow, albeit suspended in motion, by visiting his statue outside the Pavarotti-Freni Theatre.

This stately building was Modena’s opera headquarters since the 1830s and was known as the Teatro Comunale di Modena until being renamed in recent years.

Guided tours can be booked online, as well as tickets to its shows, which span opera, dance and classical music concerts.

Teatro Communale di Bologna, Bologna

The Teatro Communale di Bologna reflects the city’s most famous architectural achievement. Photo: Ronan O'Connell
The Teatro Communale di Bologna reflects the city’s most famous architectural achievement. Photo: Ronan O'Connell

Bologna is one of Europe’s most overlooked cities, the result of being located in between tourist magnets Venice, Milan and Florence. Those tourists who do pause to delve into Bologna are rewarded by a picturesque historic centre, decorated by pretty churches, art galleries, shady parks and a splendid opera house.

Built in 1763, the attractive facade of Teatro Communale di Bologna is embellished by rows of arches and columns. This reflects Bologna’s most famous architectural achievement – its 62-kilometre network of ornate, covered walkways that are now a Unesco World Heritage Site.

The city’s oldest theatre is tremendously busy. More than 100 events, including about 80 operas, are held each year in its luxurious main hall, which is draped in vibrant murals and covered with velvet furnishings.

Teatro Argentina, Rome

Teatro Argentina, centre, stands out in the neighbourhood. Photo: Ronan O'Connell
Teatro Argentina, centre, stands out in the neighbourhood. Photo: Ronan O'Connell

Rome is so dense with historic sites that it’s easy for even the most remarkable buildings to fade into the background. That was what happened when I headed to the Italian capital’s revered opera venue, Teatro Argentina.

As I approached this cream-coloured, 18th-century masterpiece, I encountered a unique site opposite it – the ruins of 2,000-year-old Pompey Theatre, where Roman leader Julius Caesar was assassinated.

One of the oldest performance venues in Rome, Teatro Argentina doesn’t offer regular tours. But tourists can still see its lavish interior by booking online tickets to one of its many shows, which in 2024 range from ballets to opera, stage plays and orchestral concerts.

British Grand Prix free practice times in the third and final session at Silverstone on Saturday (top five):

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:28.063 (18 laps)

2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:28.095 (14)

3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1:28.137 (20)

4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 1:28.732 (15)

5. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault)  1:29.480 (14)

Mumbai Indians 213/6 (20 ov)

Royal Challengers Bangalore 167/8 (20 ov)

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:

Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')

Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)

Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg

Bayern Munich 1
Kimmich (27')

Real Madrid 2
Marcelo (43'), Asensio (56')

You Were Never Really Here

Director: Lynne Ramsay

Starring: Joaquim Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov

Four stars

MATCH INFO

Chelsea 1
Alonso (62')

Huddersfield Town 1
Depoitre (50')

Ruwais timeline

1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established

1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants

1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed

1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.  

1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex

2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea

2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd

2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens

2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies

2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export

2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.

2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery 

2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital

2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13

Source: The National

ENGLAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope 
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold 
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph 
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck

Name: Colm McLoughlin

Country: Galway, Ireland

Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free

Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club

Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah

 

MATCH INFO

Mumbai Indians 186-6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 183-5 (20 ovs)

Mumbai Indians won by three runs

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Cracks in the Wall

Ben White, Pluto Press 

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE

Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000

Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6

Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm

Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

The bio

Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions

School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira

Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk

Dream City: San Francisco

Hometown: Dubai

City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala

Stamp%20duty%20timeline
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COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Happy Tenant

Started: January 2019

Co-founders: Joe Moufarrej and Umar Rana

Based: Dubai

Sector: Technology, real-estate

Initial investment: Dh2.5 million

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 4,000

KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wes%20Ball%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Owen%20Teague%2C%20Freya%20Allen%2C%20Kevin%20Durand%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

ETFs explained

Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.

ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.

There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.

The five pillars of Islam
Gifts exchanged
  • King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
  • Queen Camilla -  Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
  • Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
  • Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
Sustainable Development Goals

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

10. Reduce inequality  within and among countries

11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

Traits of Chinese zodiac animals

Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent   

War and the virus
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)

  • Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave. 
  • Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
  • Help out around the house.
  • Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
  • Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
  • Offer to strip the bed before you go.
Mental%20health%20support%20in%20the%20UAE
%3Cp%3E%E2%97%8F%20Estijaba%20helpline%3A%208001717%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Ministry%20of%20Health%20and%20Prevention%20hotline%3A%20045192519%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Mental%20health%20support%20line%3A%20800%204673%20(Hope)%3Cbr%3EMore%20information%20at%20hope.hw.gov.ae%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

6 UNDERGROUND

Director: Michael Bay

Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco

2.5 / 5 stars

A State of Passion

Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi

Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Rating: 4/5

The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe

Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads

Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike

They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users

Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance

They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians

MANDOOB
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Updated: January 26, 2024, 6:02 PM`