Time does not spare wooden structures created by human hands. Unfortunately, medieval theaters were built of wood, and mostly descriptions have survived to this day. It can be considered a real miracle that even today we can see the Olympic Theater in the Italian city of Vicenza. This theater, along with Farnese in Parma and Al-Antika in Sabbionet, has been preserved since the Renaissance.
A few words about Vicenza
Before telling in detail about the Olympic Theater in Vicenza, a few words about the city itself. It was founded, according to archaeological research, in the period between the 7th and 11th centuries on a fertile plain, at the base of the Monti-Berichi mountains. Vicenza, with 120,000 inhabitants, is located on both banks of the river suitable for shipping - Bakkillone.
The famous architect of the late Italian Renaissance glorified this city - Andrea Palladio. The Olimpico Theater (Teatro Olimpico) is not his only creation: the central city square dei Signori and Villa Cara, the Palladian Basilica decorated Vicenza. Famous natives of this city, masters of Scamozzi and Palladio, continued his architectural traditions.
Project Author
Palladio, the great Italian architect, planned to build a permanent Olimpico theater in his hometown of Vicenza after his return in 1579. It is worth noting that Andrea Palladio is not his real name, but a creative pseudonym. Initially, his name was Andrea di Pietro della Gondola, and he changed his name only at the age of 30. He was born in Padua in 1508 in the family of a mason. The boy began working with his father at the age of 10, and at 13 fled to the neighboring town of Vicenza. Here he began to learn from the master Bartolomeo Cavazza, while earning his living by working as a stone carver. However, Palladio became an acting architect already at a "solid" age, since for a long time he studied the specialty and heritage of ancient Greek and Roman masters. It was
Andrea Palladio who managed not only to preserve the principles and concepts of ancient architecture, but also to transform and adapt them to the conditions of his modern life. In total, Palladio created more than forty different buildings: villas, temples, residential buildings and
public buildings, bridges and dams, tombs, located mainly in Vicenza and its environs, as well as in the Veneto region.
Creative design
Before receiving permission to build in 1579 and building the Olympico theater, Andrea Palladio created several temporary theaters in Vicenza. Initially, they wanted to use wood for the construction of a permanent theater, but after Palladio presented his project, the leadership of the Olympic Academy and the city decided to build a stone building, but there were not enough allocated finances to erect it. The chairman of the Academy found a way out of the situation, proposing to establish forever, in gratitude and gratitude, the sculptural portraits of patrons on the stage of Teatro Olimpico. Thanks to this original move, Vicenza received an excellent theater, and patrons who donated funds received statues that still stand on its stage.
Construction history
After the financing problem was resolved and the project approved, the construction of the building began. The Olimpico Theater in Vicenza, which served as the prototype of most theatrical structures throughout the world, began to be built in late 1579 - early 1580. The impetus for the start of the construction of this building was the permission of the city authorities issued by the famous architect and founder of the Olympic Academy - Andrea Palladio. The city allocated for the construction of a permanent theater the place where the ancient fortress structure - Castello del Territorio, which was previously used as a powder warehouse and prison - was located. Just six months after the start of construction, the author of the Olimpico Theater project, Palladio, died suddenly.
The son of Andrea Palladio, Sila, continued the construction of the theater building. After him, construction was completed by another prominent Italian architect - Scamozzi. Based on the drawings of the author of the project, he managed to introduce his own elements, such as the arched passage into the courtyard through the medieval fortress wall, the halls of Antiodeo and Odeo. It is important to emphasize that it was Vincenzo Scamozzi who created the stage scenery that made this theater famous.
The Olimpico Theater was opened in Vicenza on March 3, 1585 with the staging of the Sophocles tragedy King Oedipus.
Olimpico structure
Once in the theater, first of all you find yourself in the Antiodeo hall, decorated with monochrome frescoes depicting the most important events in the life of Vicenza in the 16th century. Then we go to Sala dell'Odèo, whose walls are painted with colorful murals. Both of these rooms, Odeo and Antiodeo, are today used for business conferences and meetings.
Passing the halls with frescoes, we find ourselves in a small, by modern standards, room. It houses an amphitheater, orchestra and stage. The auditorium is decorated with wooden columns painted in marble, and the stage is made of the same material. It is worth noting that the theater "Olympic" got its name thanks to the frescoes depicting the Olympic gods and decorating the room for musicians. The ceiling in this room depicts the sky.
The wooden stage is an architectural decoration made in the form of a triumphal arch with streets extending from it, painted on a flattened relief and creating the illusion of depth. Statues and columns support the game of proportions.
Modern life
Despite its rather venerable age, the Olimpiko Theater lives a rather active life: it hosts musical performances and puts on theater performances and plays.
However, in order to preserve this monument of culture and architecture, included in the UNESCO World Heritage Register, its capacity is limited to only 400 spectators. Theatrical performances are in it only in the fall and spring. This is explained by the fact that the building is not adapted to both summer and winter operating conditions: it does not have heating and air conditioning systems. They are not installed specifically, since the studies showed the possibility of damage to wooden structures in the case of their installation and operation.