Baths of Caracalla, Rome

Verdi’s timeless masterpiece returns to the iconic Baths of Caracalla in Rome

Under the star-strewn skies of Rome, the monumental Baths of Caracalla prepare to host one of the most anticipated cultural events of summer 2025: La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi. Inspired by La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas fils and set to a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, Verdi’s timeless melodrama will take center stage at the Caracalla Festival — the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma’s annual summer season that blends opera, ballet, and symphonic music in one of the world’s most breathtaking archaeological sites.

«In shaping this year’s artistic vision» — says Damiano Michieletto — «I wanted to respond to the spirit of Rome in this Jubilee Year and create a dialogue with the occasion». The 2025 theme, “Between the Sacred and the Human”, serves as a guiding thread for the entire program.

Alongside Verdi’s La Traviata, the festival will present three new productions exploring themes of transcendence and redemption: Handel’s The Resurrection, Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and Bernstein’s West Side Story. The stagings are signed by Ilaria Lanzino, Vasily Barkhatov, and Michieletto himself — artists of a bold new generation reshaping the landscape of contemporary opera and musical theatre.

In a major first for the festival, the Basilica of Maxentius will join the Baths as a second performance venue — an intimate, atmospheric space that extends the festival’s creative possibilities while deepening its historic resonance.

As for La Traviata, a bold and visually arresting new interpretation will premiere on July 19, with additional performances on July 23, 27, and August 1, 2, and 3, all beginning at 9:00 PM. Francesco Lanzillotta will conduct, while the direction is entrusted to acclaimed Slovak artist Sláva Daubnerová, known for her ability to combine visual poetry with dramaturgical clarity in highly original stagecraft.

In the role of Violetta Valéry — a figure of luminous fragility — Corinne Winters will sing in July, followed by Hasmik Torosyan in August. Piotr Buszewski and Oreste Cosimo will alternate as Alfredo Germont. The production features the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma Chorus, led by Ciro Visco, and the Company’s Ballet Ensemble, directed by Eleonora Abbagnato with choreography by Ermanno Sbezzo.

The plot — known and loved around the world — centers on Violetta, a young Parisian courtesan who gives up a life of pleasure and excess for the love of Alfredo. But their happiness is short-lived: Alfredo’s father convinces her to leave him, so as not to compromise the family’s honor. Heartbroken but dignified, Violetta agrees and bids farewell in a heartrending letter.

In the aria Amami, Alfredo — a timeless symbol of Italian opera — she gives voice to a love that is both pure and desperate, before their final goodbye. Unaware of the truth, Alfredo publicly humiliates her. Only later does he learn the real reason for her sacrifice and rush to her side. But it’s too late: Violetta, weakened by illness, is nearing the end.

Tickets are available on TicketOne, starting at €25. The performance runs approximately three hours. For official information and updates, visit operaroma.it.

TriviHo: your elegant hideaway in the heart of Rome

Design-forward Italian hospitality on Via Barberini

If your Roman holiday calls for opera by night and flawless style by day, TriviHo, at 50 Via Barberini, is the address to book. Two minutes from Piazza Barberini, Via Veneto and the Trevi Fountain, this luxury boutique hotel marries classic Italian flair with contemporary comfort, offering a discreet haven in the city’s vibrant centre.

Guest rooms — an artful blend of modern design pieces and hand-picked antiques — welcome aesthetes of every kind: couples in search of romance, culture buffs, or opera-lovers in town for the summer season. From TriviHo’s doorstep, Rome unfolds on foot: haute-couture boutiques, storied cafés, world-class museums and rooftop terraces are all within an easy stroll.

Adding polish to the stay is a dedicated, multilingual staff. Whether you need a tailor-made walking itinerary, a table at a coveted trattoria, or priority arrangements for headline events such as La Traviata at the Baths of Caracalla, the concierge team curates every detail with quiet efficiency — so you can savour Rome at your own pace, in effortless style.

From TriviHo to the Baths of Caracalla

Your itinerary to La Traviata on the slopes of the Aventine

Getting to the Baths of Caracalla from TriviHo is easy and straightforward — even for first-time visitors to Rome.

Just 200 metres from the hotel, Barberini station (Metro Line A) connects you directly to Termini station, where a quick transfer to Line B will take you to Circo Massimo. From there, it’s a short walk to the entrance of the archaeological site.

Alternatively, bus line 160 (direction Montagnola) departs from Piazza Barberini and stops at Baccelli — just a few minutes on foot from Via delle Terme di Caracalla.

For added convenience, guests can request a private transfer or taxi service directly from the reception.

And for those who prefer to take their time, a romantic 40-minute walk at sunset leads from the hotel to the base of the Aventine Hill, weaving through some of the city’s most atmospheric districts — Rione Trevi, Monti, and beyond.

Whichever route you choose, arriving at Caracalla at dusk offers a moment of hushed anticipation, almost sacred in its stillness — a perfect prelude to the emotional depth of La Traviata, set against the silent grandeur of Rome’s timeless ruins.