Filarmonici Theater (Ascoli Piceno)

History of the Filarmonici Theater

The theater was built near the seat of the Accademia dei Filodrammatici, from which it took its first name, Teatro dei Filodrammatici. The Società dei Filodrammatici had been founded on the initiative of Count Orazio Piccolomini, who presided over it. The space soon proved too small, and funds were raised to enlarge it. The project was entrusted to Ignazio Cantalamessa and the engineer Gabriele Gabrielli.

After the Società was dissolved in 1860, the theater was run by the municipality until 1897. That year it was bought by the Società Filarmonica Ascolana, which renovated it completely and gave it its current name. In 1917 it passed to the Marini family, who used it mainly for film screenings until it closed in 1987. The municipality acquired it in 1994. The restoration work lasted many years and ended with the 2018 reopening.

What to see in the Filarmonici Theater

The facade is divided into three levels. The ground floor is in travertine, with three large identical doors leading into the lobby.

The auditorium has a horseshoe plan, with stalls, two tiers of boxes and an upper gallery. The decoration is by the sculptor Giorgio Paci, who created stuccoes in a neoclassical style. The pillars support capitals with Medusa heads. On the boxes there are cherubs, floral motifs and pairs of female figures representing the arts. On the second tier there are swans and musical instruments.

The foyer has a cloister vault and since 2021 has been named after the Ascoli composer Clito Moderati. In 2024 the statue "L'Inchino" (The Bow) by Teodosio Campanelli, dedicated to actors, was unveiled there.

How to visit the Filarmonici Theater

The theater is a performance venue, so the simplest way to see the interior is to attend a show. Over time it has also hosted guided tours on special occasions, such as the day organized by FAI Giovani volunteers in 2023. Another example is the "Ascoli in scena" route on May 3, 2026, which linked the city's theaters. It is worth checking the events calendar before going. For accessibility, an elevator is available.

Where the Filarmonici Theater is

The theater is in Ascoli Piceno, on via delle Torri, in the historic center.

Around the Filarmonici Theater in Ascoli Piceno

Ascoli Piceno has two historic theaters: the Filarmonici and the Ventidio Basso, which stands on via del Trivio, opposite the cloister of San Francesco, near Piazza del Popolo in Ascoli Piceno. The city's cultural venues also include the Auditorium Mons. Silvano Montevecchi (Ascoli Piceno). More sights are on the page about things to do in Ascoli Piceno.