7 Best Performing Arts Venues in Naples, Italy

A large, centrally located theater off Via Toledo, the Augusteo usually presents commercial Italian theater and concerts, but Bruce Springsteen did play here once in 1997.

A Belle Époque theater with an ultramodern foyer, Teatro Mercadante hosts high-quality touring productions.

Another exciting venue for avant-garde performances, Teatro Nuovo occupies a historic theater building.

This venue presents a challenging bill of fare that includes a healthy dose of contemporary dance. The Teatro San Carlo company uses the space to present contemporary works that are a little too modern for their hallowed headquarters.

For a satisfying Neapolitan "soul" experience, catch a local singer like Lina Sastri or Lara Sansone at Teatro Sannazaro, which also hosts Neapolitan plays by Eduardo de Filippo and the Associazione Scarlatti's classical music performances. In addition, the venue books shows by younger Italian bands and singers.

An old cinema refurbished to provide a "home for Neapolitan song," this theater mixes showings of classic Neapolitan movies with local comedies and comedy acts, as well as concerts by traditional Neapolitan musicians.

The Rothschild banking family's 19th-century residence (now known as the Museo Diego Aragona Pignatelli Cortes) makes a fitting venue for the concerts that are often held in the summer.