The Opera of Paris, in France.

The Opera of Paris, also known as the Opera Garnier, is located in the Palais Garnier. It is an imposing neo-baroque building which, together with the Opera Bastille, forms the Paris National Opera. This is the place that inspired the famous play «The Phantom of the Opera».

It is one of the most beautiful and representative of Paris, resulting impressive sight from the central island of the Plaza de la Opera, always full of tourists and fans (also professional) to photography, where the access to the subway.

After Napoleon III’s decision to build a new building for the opera, organized a contest in which more than 170 architects presented their projects. Finally the young architect Charles Garnier was the one who managed to bring out the design of the building.

Before the building was completed, Napoleon decided it was necessary to build an avenue to join the opera with the Tuileries, so that dozens of families were expropriated from their homes to see that his ambition was satisfied. Paradoxically, the emperor never used the avenue that had ordered built.

The construction of the building began in 1860, but would not be completed until 1875 due to various complications such as the lack of stability of the ground, the war of 1870 or the fall of the imperial regime.
Finally, after the elaborate work of 14 painters and 73 sculptors and artisans in 1875 saw the opening of the building, which the architect was not invited to have had dealings with Napoleon, so he had to pay for a ticket and placed in the background.

During the tour of the Palais Garnier is possible to see the luxury and opulence that surrounded people attending the opera, not only to enjoy the show, but to see and be seen.

Some of the most striking of the building are the «foyers» lobbies in which the audience walked during the intermissions, which are richly decorated with gold and precious mosaics.

The theater, decorated in red and gold, is illuminated by a huge crystal chandelier ceiling lights seems curious decorated by the strange paintings by a young child. It is remarkable the small size of the room, which has only 1,900 red velvet seats, when compared to the vast size of the building, which occupies 11,000 square meters.

Probably one of the most striking elements of the building is the large white marble staircase with a marble balustrade green and red that connects the two levels.

The Opera Garnier is a spectacular building capable of transmitting wealth and magnificence that accompanied him in the past.

You can visit the opera for free or take a guided tour. Guided tours are conducted only in English and French and are 90 minutes, so it is more practical to make the visit for free.