La Fenice in Venice, Platea or Palco?
 

Trying to book tickets to see an opera in Venice but I have a choice between Platea (which appears to be seats on the floor) or Palco Centrale Ord. Parapetto (center balcony, near the front).

Both tickets are the same amount, but which is best?

Yes, Platea is what Brits call the stalls and what I believe Americans call the orchestra - i.e. ground level. The Palco seats are in boxes - La Fenice is all tiers of boxes above the stalls until you get up to the galleria/loggione level in the gods. It's down to personal choice, really - do you prefer to be in the stalls or higher up?

Personally I haven't sat in such expensive seats at La Fenice :-)

What are you planning to see, out of interest? I expect you are aware that not all seats are on sale yet.

P.S. If you are in the GeTicket page which lists the seat prices & availability for the particular performance & select 'SCARICA LA PIANTA DETTAGLIATA DEI POSTI NUMERATI' (near the top) you can download & enlarge the map to give a useful level of detail.

P.P.S. I should have said not all seats are on sale yet for the new 2012-13 season - that doesn't apply to what's left of the 2011-12 season.

The opera is Rigoletto on 9/25 and the tickts are 190 EUR each so I want to make sure I'm getting the right seats! I know it's pricey but living in the NY area, its the same for great Broadway tickets and who knows when we'll get the opp to see an opera in Venice again?