Vittoria Colonna Theater in Vittoria
The Teatro Comunale di Vittoria is an extraordinary example of neoclassical art, which receives greater expressive power thanks to its location. It is located, in fact, next to the late Baroque church of Santa Maria delle Grazie which, although different in style, is well aligned with the neoclassical construction.
The theater was built starting from 1815 on a project by Giuseppe Di Bartolo Morselli from Terranova.
It was inaugurated on June 10, 1877 with the opera "The strength of destiny" by Giuseppe Verdi and named after Vittoria Colonna, founder of the city. width, an access staircase that gives monumentality to the structure. The portico of the theater presents an alternation of Tuscan and Ionic columns, interspersed on two floors. The architectural complex is plastically enriched with medallions and statues and ends with a frieze embellished with decorations and the sculptural group of Apollo and the Muse. four tiers of boxes with a capacity of about 380 seats. For the decorations the artists Corrado Leone were called for the statues and medallions and Giuseppe Mazzone for the paintings. The Allegory of Music is painted in the center of the ceiling of the vestibule, the entrance to the theater and the area in front of the theater room. In the vault of the theatrical hall, animated by floral decorations, interspersed with portraits of famous Italian musicians, writers, poets and playwrights, there is a figurative representation, in bright chromatic tones, of cupids celebrating among garlands of flowers and leaves, ornamental ribbons and valances , and of two white swans which, placed on a cloud, complete the decoration.
