Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia

The Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (National Academy of St Cecilia, in English) dates back to 1585 making it one of the oldest musical institutions in the world. It has evolved over the years from being mostly focused on local music, to becoming a modern institution with an international reputation. Its concert hall, the Santa Cecilia Hall (named after the patron saint of music), holds 2,800 people. The hall’s innovative architecture makes the acoustics superb and it can comfortably hold both an orchestra and a chorus. The Academy’s concert output more than doubled between 1990 and 2000 making it a serious contender on the international scene. The adjoining museum of musical instruments holds one of the foremost collections of instruments in Italy.