Vittoria Theater in Sarnano

History of the Vittoria Theater in Sarnano

In 1829 a theater consortium (Condominio Teatrale) of thirty-six members, the box owners, was formed; they wanted a “public hall for performances” inside the Palazzo del Popolo. The design was entrusted to Luigi Fedeli, an engineer from Sarnano, who began work in 1831. The theater opened in 1834.

The 20th century brought difficult years. The 1935 restoration, directed by engineer Alfredo Arrà, covered many of the original paintings with stucco. During World War II the theater stayed closed, and furnishings and stage machinery were burned for heat. It reopened in 1947 with “L'Antenato” by Carlo Veneziani. In the second half of the 1950s it became a movie theater and dance hall, until it closed in 1968.

The restoration completed in 1991, entrusted to architect Giuseppe Gentili and restorer Gianfranco Pasquali, removed the 1935 stucco. The theater reopened on May 18, 1991, with “Serata d'amore”, starring actress Piera Degli Esposti. In 1992 the cultural association Il Circolo di Piazza Alta was founded; it organizes shows, acting classes and events.

What to see in the Vittoria Theater

The hall has a horseshoe plan with three tiers of boxes. The vault shows a neoclassical design imitating a Roman velarium, with trompe l'oeil lunettes. The proscenium arch has two large brackets resting on Corinthian pilasters in faux marble.

The decoration is by the Bolognese painter Gaetano Ferri. The curtain with the winged Victory is the work of the painter Rossi. The whole is a small space of red velvet and lights, now named after the tenor Mario Del Monaco.

How to visit the Vittoria Theater in Sarnano

The theater is closed to the public: the building has been unsafe for use since the earthquake and is awaiting restoration. In October 2026 the building was still unsafe, and Sarnano hopes to have it back within a few years. The building is not free of architectural barriers.

Where the Vittoria Theater is

The theater is in Sarnano, on the second floor of the Palazzo del Popolo, in the town's historic center.

Around the Vittoria Theater

With the theater closed, the events of the Circolo di Piazza Alta have been held elsewhere. In early October 2026 the Sarnano municipal art gallery hosted a performance for the Day of Historic Theaters (Giornata dei teatri storici) promoted by the Marche Region. Other theaters in the area are listed on the page about the historic theaters of the Sibillini.