In 1774, the San Benedetto Theatre, which had been Venice's leading opera house for more than forty years, burned to the ground. No sooner had it been rebuilt than a legal dispute broke out between the company managing it and the owners, the Venier family. The issue was decided in favor of the Veniers. As a result, the theatre company decided to build a new opera house of its own on the Campo San Fantin .
The construction began in June 1790, and by May 1792 the theatre was completed. It was named "La Fenice", in reference to the company's On 29 January 1996, it was completely destroyed by fire and recnstructed on 2003.