Olimpico Theater in Vicenza

Time does not spare created by human handswooden buildings. Unfortunately, medieval theaters were built of wood, and descriptions have been preserved to this day. It can be considered a true miracle that today we can see the Olimpico Theater in the Italian city of Vicenza. This theater, along with Farnese in Parma and Al-Antica in Sabbionete, has been preserved since the Renaissance.

A few words about Vicenza

Before telling about theater in detailOlimpico in Vicenza, a few words about the city itself. It was founded, according to archaeological research, in the period between VII and XI centuries on a fertile plain, at the base of the mountains of Monti Berici. Vicenza is located, home to 120,000 people, on both sides of the navigable river - Buckilone.

The famous architect of the late Italian Renaissance glorified this city. - Андреа Палладио.The Olimpico Theater (Teatro Olimpico) is not its only creation: the central city square, dei Signori, and the Villa Cara, and the Palladio Basilica decorated Vicenza. Famous natives of this city, masters of Scamozzi and Palladio, continued its architectural traditions.

Project author

Построить в родном городе Виченца постоянный the Olympic Theater Palladio, the great Italian architect, conceived 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 bricklayer. The boy began working with his father at the age of 10, and at 13 he fled to the neighboring town of Vicenza. Here he began to learn from the master Bartolomeo Kavatstsa, at the same time earning a living as a stonecutter. However, the current architect of Palladio was already in the "solid" age, as 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. Total Palladio created more than forty different buildings: villas, temples, houses and public buildings, bridges and dams, tombs, located mainly in Vicenza and its surroundings, as well as in the Veneto region.

Creative design

Before getting permission in 1579 forbuilding and start building the Olimpico Theater, Andrea Palladio set up 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 was a shortage of finances for its construction. The chairman of the Academy found a way out of the situation, proposing to install forever, as a token of appreciation and gratitude, sculptural portraits of patrons of art on the stage of Teatro Olimpico. Vicenza thanks to this original move received an excellent theater, and patrons who donated funds - statues, which still stand on his stage.

History of construction

After the funding problem wassolved, and the project was approved, the construction of the building began. Theater "Olimpico" in Vicenza, which served as the prototype for most theater facilities around the world, began to be built in late 1579 - early 1580. The impetus for the beginning 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 a place where the ancient fortification, Castello del Territio, which was previously used as a powder magazine and a prison, was located. Only six months after the beginning of construction, the author of the project “Theater Olimpico”, Palladio, died suddenly.

Продолжил работы по возведению здания театра сын Andrea Palladio - Power. After it, the construction was completed by another outstanding Italian architect - Scamozzi. Relying on the drawings of the author of the project, he was able to bring in his own elements, such as the arched passage to the courtyard through the medieval fortress wall, the Antiodeo and Odeo halls. It is important to emphasize that it was Vincenzo Scamozzi who created the stage decorations that glorified this theater.

The Olimpico Theater was opened in Vicenza on March 3, 1585, with the production of the Sophoklovskaya tragedy Tsar Oedipus.

Olimpico structure

Once in the theater, first of all you find yourself in the hall"Antiodeo", decorated with monochrome frescoes depicting the most important events in the life of Vicenza in the XVI century. Then go to Sala dell’Odèo, whose walls are painted with colored frescoes. Both of these halls, Odeo and Antiodeo, are now used for business conferences and meetings.

Passing the halls with frescoes, we fall into a smallmodern 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 "Olimpiko" 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.

A wooden stage is an architectural decoration,made in the form of a triumphal arch with streets departing from it, drawn out on a flattened relief and creating the illusion of depth. Statues and columns support the game of proportions.

Modern life

Despite the rather respectable age, the Olimpiko Theater lives a rather active life: it hosts musical performances and plays and plays are staged.

However, in order to preserve this monumentculture and architecture, entered in the UNESCO Register of World Cultural Heritage, its capacity is limited to only 400 spectators. Theatrical productions 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 conditions of functioning: it does not have heating and air conditioning systems. They are not specially installed, as studies have shown the possibility of damage to wooden structures in the event of their installation and operation.