The System
of Italian-Style
Condominio
Theatres
of the 18th and 19th
centuries in central Italy
An extraordinary presence of historic theatres, built between the mid-18th and mid-19th centuries, is concentrated in the regions of central Italy, with a density unmatched in the national landscape.
The italian-style condominio theatres became vibrant centers of community life, a fundamental part of the urban fabric, with a central role in urban spaces, creating a network of places and relationships of high social value.
In central Italy, these historic theatres form a unified system, an almost unique phenomenon for their number and the uniformity of their distribution in a well-defined territorial context, as well as for the architectural features of the individual buildings that make up this “serial site”. Moreover, they form a synergy with the historic centers in an urban structure that has been preserved until today.
The exceptional nature of this great cultural heritage has led to the nomination of The system of italian-style condominio theatres of the 18th and 19th centuries in central Italy for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
This extraordinary heritage of architectural gems, scattered throughout small towns and villages, is a tangible testimony to an era that not only witnessed an incredible flourishing of theatres, but also marked the emergence of a new understanding of the theatres. It went from being an exclusive entertainment venue for the aristocracy to a cultural institution serving the entire community.
Supported by “condominio companies”, partnerships between public administrators and private individuals, usually the families of notables, these theatres, known as “condominio theatres,” share common and distinctive features in both their stage and audience spaces, such as the horseshoe- shaped structure and the arrangement of seating between stalls and boxes, reflecting the social hierarchy of the time.
The nomination
process
The nominated property includes 18 public theatres with Italian-style auditoriums, located in central Italian regions of Emilia-Romagna, Marche and Umbria.
The 18 theatres are spaces with high social value with the capacity to host and produce cultural content that has been passed down for about three centuries.
This enduring legacy is the result of the local communities’ resilience in preserving and keeping alive the artistic and artisanal skills necessary for creating and recreating the “magic of theatre” and adapting it to suit the evolving tastes and demands of society.