The Apollon Theater was founded in 1862, following the designs of the architect Pietro Sampò, and it had taken its final form two years later. It is a spectacular theater having a noticeable Italian influence. The locals often call it "Scala", as it was constructed after the famous La Scala Theater of Milan, only relatively smaller. It has a parquet circle, an orchestral pit, an ample stage and three balconies. The most important theatrical groups of Greece (the group of Kotopouli, of Veroni, the Nea Skini group) have performed on this stage, as well as many foreign artists, staging popular operettas. The members of the upper class of Ermoupoli had private seats for the theater.
The past 25 years, efforts have been made to repair damages caused during wartime and to restore the original form of the the theater after some clumsy modifications that have been done over the years.