Constructed under Charles de Bourbon in 1737, this jewel among European opera houses was ravaged by fire in 1816 but reconstructed entirely as before within six months. Only the Royal box is original. With its amazing stucco, gilded wood and red velvet decorative scheme, the horseshoe-shaped auditorium has 184 boxes on six levels. Its perfect acoustics and broad stage make San Carlo one of Italy’s foremost musical venues.