About Maria Filotti Theatre
At a glance: Monuments and historic sites in Brăila, Brăila County. The visit takes 1½ – 2 hours. Information verified on 10 October 2026.
The building on Mihai Eminescu Street, at the corner with Calea Regală, began around 1840 as an inn belonging to the Greek shipowner Ianache Rally, burned down in 1859 and was rebuilt. The Rally House auditorium opened in 1864, and in the second half of the 19th century leading Romanian companies and foreign artists, among them the soprano Adelina Patti, appeared on its stage. From 1878, after a performance in honour of Prince Carol, it was also known as the Royal Theatre. The building was rebuilt once more and reopened on 11 December 1895; at that time the same premises held a hotel, a club, cafés, a printing house and shops. Dumitru Ionescu, a former mayor of the city, bought it in 1900 and left it to the city council in his will, so it became the Communal Theatre. Since 1954 it has been a state theatre, and since 1969 it has carried the name of the Brăila-born actress Maria Filotti, who made her debut on this stage in 1905.
The façade has rich stucco decoration: pilasters, pediments and arches around the windows, medallions and garlands on the sides facing the square and Calea Regală. The Great Hall has about 360 seats, and the building also has a studio hall, a conference hall and foyers. After a restoration and strengthening project funded by the EU, worth about 3.7 million euros, the interiors kept the atmosphere of the late 19th century.
What you can see
The exterior is the easiest thing to see: the ornamented façade of the building, in the historic centre, a few steps from Piața Traian. The interior is usually seen as a spectator, at a performance, in the Great Hall or the Studio Hall. According to the theatre's website, the foyer has housed a small museum with costumes, posters and objects belonging to the actress Maria Filotti.
Good to know
This is a working theatre, not a museum with daily visiting hours. The programme and tickets are on the theatre's website. I found no restoration works or closures announced for the last 12–18 months; the major restoration began in 2014. Children under 9 are not admitted to the hall, except at children's performances.
- The richly ornamented façade, with medallions and arches, on Calea Regală, in Brăila's historic centre.
- An evening at a performance in the Great Hall, in a building where Adelina Patti and Hariclea Darclée sang.
- Piața Traian, a few steps away, with the ensemble of buildings in the old centre.
- The façade lit up at night, when the theatre looks best from the square.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the theatre is in Brăila's historic centre, on Mihai Eminescu Street, next to Piața Traian. From Galați it is ~25 km (about 30 minutes, on the DN22B); from Bucharest, ~200 km (about 3 hours), on the DN2/E85 to Buzău and then the DN2B.
Public transport: from the railway station and from any district you can reach the centre by bus or tram; the theatre is a few minutes' walk from the stops around Piața Traian.
- Where to park
The theatre has no car park for the public. Around it you park on the street, paid, in the central zone; on performance evenings the spaces fill up quickly. It is more comfortable to leave the car farther away and come on foot.
- Fees & discounts
I found no official ticket prices published. The price varies by performance; tickets are bought at the theatre agency or online, on the ticketing platform that the theatre's website links to.
- Rules
At performances the hall's rules apply: phones off, no filming or photographing the stage during the show, arrive before it starts. No food or drink in the hall. Children under 9 are not admitted, except at children's performances; age restrictions are shown on the poster and on the website. Decent dress is common sense.
- Facilities
theatre agency · online tickets · foyer · several halls
Frequently asked questions about Maria Filotti Theatre
- How long does a visit to Maria Filotti Theatre take?
- A visit to Maria Filotti Theatre takes about 1½ – 2 hours (the length of a performance).
- Can you visit Maria Filotti Theatre with kids?
- No, Maria Filotti Theatre is not recommended for visits with children (under 9: children's shows only).
- Where can I park at Maria Filotti Theatre?
- There is paid parking at Maria Filotti Theatre (on the street, in the centre). The theatre has no car park for the public. Around it you park on the street, paid, in the central zone; on performance evenings the spaces fill up quickly. It is more comfortable to leave the car farther away and come on foot.
- How do I get to Maria Filotti Theatre?
- Maria Filotti Theatre is located at Strada Mihai Eminescu nr. 2, Brăila, Brăila County. By car: the theatre is in Brăila's historic centre, on Mihai Eminescu Street, next to Piața Traian. From Galați it is ~25 km (about 30 minutes, on the DN22B); from Bucharest, ~200 km (about 3 hours), on the DN2/E85 to Buzău and then the DN2B. Public transport: from the railway station and from any district you can reach the centre by bus or tram; the theatre is a few minutes' walk from the stops around Piața Traian.
- When is the best time to visit Maria Filotti Theatre?
- The best season for Maria Filotti Theatre: All year round (season from autumn to summer).
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