The first Theater of the town, known as the Teatro di San Giacomo, operated from 1720 in the building of the Nobility Club, today's Town Hall, where hundreds of significant opera performances were presented throughout the 19th century. Towards the end of the 19th century, the space proved too smal for its use, so the Municipal Authority decided to build a new modern Municipal Theater and commissioned the design to famous Italian architect C. Pergolesi. The new theatre was a remarkable characteristic example of a regional Opera House, like many such houses found frequently in many European cities and especially in Italy. Unfortunately, that Municipal Theater was bombed in 1943 by the Germans. The frame of the building remained intact until 1952, when, by decision of the then Municipal Council, under Mayor Stamatios Desyllas, it was completely demolished. Today's Municipal Theater was built at that same location on the architectural design of Pericles Sakellarios, a native of Corfu.