Syros Apollo Theatre

Location: Ermoupolis

The Apollo Municipal Theatre of Ermoupolis in Syros was built in 1864 by the Italian architect Pietro Sampo. It is located in Miaouli Square, the center of Ermoupoulis, and constitutes a replica of La Scala di Milan. It is made of white marble and limestone and has two floors. It also has many beautiful wall paintings and wooden tiers inside.

In the 19th century, artistic creation was intense in Syros, with cultural events taking place in spaces like wooden warehouses and cafes, which led the town council to decide to erect a theater in Ermoupolis. The construction works started in 1862 and it only took two years for the theater to be completed.
The inauguration ceremony took place on 20 April 1864 and featured the opera performances of "Rigoletto", "Un Ballo in Maschera", and "La Traviata" by Verdi and "La Favorita" by Donizetti.

During the German Occupation of Greece, the Apollo Theatre was used by Italian and German garrisons for film screenings. After Greece gained its independence again, the theatre continued to serve as a cinema but also hosted some theatrical plays from time to time.

In the middle of the 20th century, the theatre shut down; it was considered impaired and dangerous to host individuals. The first attempt to restore it started in 1970, which was never completed due to lack of funding.
Fortunately, in the 1990s, a team of architects designed new plans for the Apollo Theatre's restoration after the Greek Ministry of Culture and the European Union financed it. The works were completed in 2000 and the new, restored building was inaugurated on 17 July. The building has not stopped hosting various events of cultural interest ever since.

Official website: apollontheater.gr