When it comes to opera, Zagreb and Rijeka are the two cities with the best opera programs in Croatia. The blueprints for the construction of theatre buildings are in common for both towns, and they came from the architect studio „Fellner & Helmer“ from Vienna. The national theatre in Rijeka opened its doors on October 3rd, 1885, with the premiere of the opera Aida by Verdi. Ten years later, on October 14th, 1895, Franz Józef, the Habsburg Emperor, opened the national theatre in Zagreb. The first opera to be performed was an allegory to the hero Nikola Šubić Zrinski written by Ivan pl. Zajc, a famous Croatian composer. For all the culture lovers, Rijeka offers many cultural activities throughout the year 2020, but also in the following years, with its newly open galleries and museums. The city has become the European capital of culture in 2020 with the title “The port of diversity”.