Teatro Nicola Degli Angeli

In the 19th century, the spread of melodrama in Italy, especially in the Marche, led to the creation and restoration of numerous theatres. In Montelupone, the construction of the new Palazzo Comunale in 1863 also led to the design of a theatre inside, thanks to the intervention of Count Alessandro Tomassini Barbarossa and the architect Ireneo Aleandri. Aleandri's design, which included Palladian influences and a horseshoe-shaped plan, was not realized due to economic problems. In 1884, architect Giuseppe Sabbatini revived and developed the project, with neoclassical forms, two tiers of boxes and an elliptical plan. Work began in 1884 and was completed in 1886, but decorative and stage machinery work continued until 1894. The decoration of the vault was entrusted to Domenico Ferri and Giovanni Picca, but due to delays, Picca completed most of the works. The theatre opened in 1896 and was restored in 1996, after years of neglect.