Andrea Palladio’s last work and masterpiece, the Olympic Theatre was commissioned in February 1580 by the Accademia Olimpica, a society of mixed social classes for cultural and scientific purposes and to which Palladio himself belonged.
This theater is the first example of a fully indoor ancient Greek seating style theater. Palladio designed a monumental scenae frons. The precious decoration in renaissance style brought to Palladio’s days the ancient Greek and Roman classic taste with lot of statues and rich decorations.
This theater is also renown for his false perspective fixed stage scenographys of the Streets of Thebes designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi. Being the stage not very deep the false perspective tricks the audience with the sensation of a very deep scene that are placed behind the floor to ceiling huge decorated facade with big opened arched windows and doors that limits the back of the main stage and allow to see the scenes behind it.
The theatre is reached by way of the odeon and anti-odeon, two large rooms designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi and decorated with frescoes.
Many concerts are still held in this place, and the acoustic is very nice.
WINTER HOURS
From first week of September to first week of July:
Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 5 pm
SUMMER HOURS
From first week of July to the first week of September:
Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm
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Always verify the hours by visiting the official website
Olimpic Theatre is closed every Monday, December 25th and January 1st.
The theatre is included in the Museum Card. Otherwise, you can buy a ticket only for Teatro Olimpico:
- Full ticket: €11,00
- Reduced: € 8,00 (students up to 25 years old with University card)
- Free Entrance: Children up to the age of 17 years included, soldiers with identification.
Photos allowed without flash.
Only small dogs allowed into a bag.
Address
Our Address:
Teatro Olimpico, Piazza Matteotti, Vicenza
GPS:
45.5501507, 11.549321100000043
