Descrizione
The town’s cultural gem.
Cultural life in Cagli thrives thanks to its historic theatre, a jewel of a building inaugurated in 1878. The theatre hints at its grandeur the moment you step through the door: the foyer is dominated by four imposing columns that rise up to form an elegant cross vault adorned with iridescent decorations. The beauty of this space serves to prepare visitors for their entry into the main auditorium.
Here, the seating is arranged not only in the stalls but also across three tiers of boxes and a gallery, each adorned with refined decorations that vary from level to level; all are the work of Alessandro Venanzi, who was responsible for the theatre’s entire décor. The stage entrance is adorned with statues representing Comedy and Tragedy, beneath which stand the busts of Goldoni and Alfieri, who act as patrons ensuring the success of the performances.
The spectacle continues as one looks up to admire the vaulted ceiling in shades of blue, so skilfully painted as to create a trompe l’oeil effect that gives the impression of a concave ceiling, where allegorical depictions of the seven liberal arts surround the chandelier, which conceals a particular stage trick. In fact, it can be raised and lowered via a mechanism to adjust lighting effects and plays of light in the auditorium.
This technical ingenuity, which verges on magic, is mirrored in the floor, which is also fitted with a mechanism that allowed it to be raised to the level of the stage. If one’s gaze continues on to the marvellous curtain – the true emblem of the theatre – one will be left speechless whilst admiring the scene, also painted by Venanzi, which depicts a crowd of armed men, pages and high-ranking dignitaries gathered around the pavilion of Frederick Barbarossa, who laid siege to Cagli in 1162.
Such splendour is brought to life by one of the region’s most vibrant theatre programmes, running all year round and serving as a cultural hub for the town.
