Civic Theater (Norcia)

The history of the Civic Theater

The first theater was small and was located inside the Palazzo Comunale, on the second floor, next to the Sala dei Quaranta and above the grasceria (the old grain and provisions office). Altieri persuaded the landowners of the town and countryside to fund the work without using public money.

After the 1859 earthquake the theater was rebuilt: the new building, designed in 1872 by the Perugia architect Domenico Mollajoli (Mollaioli in other sources), was inaugurated on August 28, 1876 with Giuseppe Verdi's "Un ballo in maschera". In 1952 the fire destroyed it almost completely, and for decades the theater was not used. It was rebuilt between 1975 and 1996.

The 2016 earthquake caused new damage. The building was classified with damage level B, meaning temporarily unusable, and the main damage was the partial collapse of a masonry vault on the Via Novelli side. The restoration was funded through the Art Bonus scheme thanks to a donation from the Cucinelli family.

What to see in the Civic Theater

The first feature is the façade, kept in the reconstruction completed in 1996. The interior was rebuilt in modern style, with stalls, a gallery and a large stage.

The restoration completed in 2026 covered the plasterwork and historic finishes, respecting the original colors, as well as the technical systems. The acoustics of the stalls and gallery, the seats and the lighting were also redone.

Before the fire the auditorium was horseshoe-shaped with three tiers of boxes. The curtain, painted by the Venetian Zasso, depicted a battle episode from the life of Sertorius.

How to visit the Civic Theater

The theater is fully usable again after the recovery and reconstruction work. It remains a performance venue, so it is best to check the program in advance. For the reopening, "Lu Santo Jullàre Françesco" by Dario Fo and Franca Rame was staged.

Where the Civic Theater is located

The theater is in the historic center of Norcia, in Umbria. It stands on Piazza del Teatro; Norcia lies at about 600 m above sea level, in the Sibillini National Park in the Sibillini Mountains.

Around the Civic Theater

The center of Norcia has the civic tower, the Palazzo comunale and the Castellina fortress. The Cucinelli family supported the restoration of the civic tower and the projects to restore the Castellina and the Palazzo comunale. Other historic theaters in the area are described on the page about the historic theaters of the Sibillini.