The Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka attracts attention with its fascinating High Renaissance-Baroque historic building, as well as with the rich content that spills over the edges of the building: most evenings of the year, the area in front of the theatre is buzzing with an eager audience waiting for a drama, ballet or opera performance, or a concert.

Virtual Tour of the "Zajc" Theatre - https://www.virtualno360.hr/virtualna-setnja-pregled/hrvatsko-narodno-kazaliste-ivana-pl-zajca-rijeka

The Rijeka audience has been very attached to and proud of their theatre for more than 130 years. After the city authorities decided that the existing theatre, Teatro Adamić (opened in 1805), did not meet the needs of the city, a new, luxurious and modern theatre building was designed by renowned Viennese architects Hermann Gottlieb Helmer and Ferdinand Fellner, and the decorations were made by the Venetian sculptor Augusto Benvenuti. The theatre building was built on a square created by filling in the sea, and was officially opened on October 3, 1885, with performances of Verdi's opera Aida and Ponchielli's La Gioconda. At the time of its opening, the theatre was the only place in the city where you could see an electric light bulb and a telephone.

Over the years, top artists have performed on the Rijeka stage, to mention just a few: composers and conductors Giacomo Puccini and Pietro Mascagni, famous tenors Enrico Caruso and Beniamino Gigli, and the great actress Sarah Bernhardt.

The auditorium (stalls, mezzanine and two tiers of boxes, and a balcony) can accommodate 650 people.