Teatro Olimpico

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The Palladian proscenium.
The Palladian proscenium.

The Teatro Olimpico ("Olympic Theatre") is a theatre in Vicenza, northern Italy, designed by the Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio as his last work. It is widely considered the first example of covered theatre of the Modern age.

The theatre was commissioned in 1585 by the Accademia Olimpica ("Olympic Academy") of Vicenza for the eastern part of the city. Construction began that year, and the building was inaugurated on March 3, 1585, after the completion of the famous scenes by Vincenzo Scamozzi. These are the sole Renaissance structures of that kind to have survived until contemporary times, and the Teatro Olimpico is the oldest surviving Renaissance theater.

Together with other Palladian buildings in Vicenza, the theatre is included from 1994 in the UNESCO World Heritage Site "City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto".

Contents

[edit] History

Floor plan (drawing by Ottavio Bertotti Scamozzi, 1776)
Floor plan (drawing by Ottavio Bertotti Scamozzi, 1776)
The cavea and the loggia.
The cavea and the loggia.
Longitudinal section (Ottavio Bertotti Scamozzi, 1776)
Longitudinal section (Ottavio Bertotti Scamozzi, 1776)
Detail of the wooden scene designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi.
Detail of the wooden scene designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi.
The entrance to the theatre yard from Piazza Matteotti.
The entrance to the theatre yard from Piazza Matteotti.
Lightning elements used by Scamozzi for the very first production.
Lightning elements used by Scamozzi for the very first production.

The Olympic theatre is the last work by Palladio, and ranks amongst his highest masterworks. The Vicentine architect had returned to his native city in 1579, bringing with him long studies on the classical theatres, based on the Vitruvius' De architectura and the personal inspection of the Roman ruins (notably the Teatro Berga in Vicenza).

Palladio, a founder of the Olympic Academy (created in 1555) had already designed provisional scenographic settings in various places of the city, until in 1579 the Academy obtained the concession for a place where to build a stable theatre. This was an old Mediaeval fortress, utilized as prison and powder store until being abandoned.

Palladio died in 1580 only six months after the beginning of construction. These, however, could be continued basing on his sketches and drawings by his son Silla, and in 1584 the cavea, with loggia and proscenium, were finished. Palladio had not left any real project for the prospectic scene (only a brief sketch), and so the other prominent Vicentine architect Vincenzo Scamozzi was called for it. Scamozzi was also responsible of the Odèo and Antiodèo rooms, as well as the original entrance portal. This theater has seven hallways designed as streets of the city of Thebes, Greece, introducing the idea of artistic perspective into Renaissance theater. The idea behind the seven hallways is to provide each spectator with a view down at least one of the streets. An effective trompe-l'œil prospectic technique is used to provide the illusion of long streets within few meters of real space.

The theatre was inaugurated on March 3, 1585, with the representation of Sophocles' Oedipus the King. However, the theater was virtually abandoned after only a few productions. The scenes, which had been realized in wood and stucco for a temporary use, were never removed: despite bombings and other vicissitudes, they have miraculously preserved until modern days. There was also an original lightning system designed by Scamozzi, used only very few times because of the high cost and the risk of fire.

The Olympic Theatre is currently the seat for spectacles in Autumn and Spring, being not provided with a heating or conditioning system which could damage the delicate wooden structures, and for a limited audience.

[edit] Visiting

The theatre is walking and biking distance from the center of Vicenza, just inside the no-traffic area. It doesn't take long to visit and absorb the wonders - plan on about half an hour for a visit.

[edit] See also

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[edit] External links

Coordinates: 45°33′00″N, 11°32′57″E