You can visit the smallest theatre in the world in the village of Montecastello di Vibio. This marvellous theatre only has 99 seats shared between its boxes and stalls. It was finished in 1808, under the Napoleonic occupation, and was initiated by nine local families. .
In the second half of the 19th century it was decorated by Cesare Agretti and in 1892 by his son Luigi, only 14 at the time, who painted the ceiling and the vaults, the boxes and the meeting room. After its construction, Monte Castello became a capital of a large territory and enjoyed a particularly vibrant period thanks to the ideals of brotherhood and equality introduced by the new French administration.
The original building has been restored several times. The latest works, after a period of neglect during the 50’s and 60’s, were finished at the beginning of the 90’s. The interior of the theatre, considered “the smallest in the world”, is made entirely out of wood in the “Goldoniano” style and represents a rare example of its kind, offering a harmonious and well thought out use of space for scenery, for the actors and the audience.
Plenty of shows take the place each year: prose, opera, classical and jazz concerts. The theatre is also available for meetings and civil weddings, and can be visited on Saturday and Sunday at the followings times: from September to March from 10.00 am to 12:30 pm and from 3.30 pm to 6.30pm; from April to August from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm and from 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm.
The theatre is also open between 25th December and 6th January, in July and August.
On other days you can arrange a visit by calling the cultural association “Società del Teatro della Concordia”, Piazza del Teatro, 4.
Info: www.teatropiccolo.it