WHY SEE IT?
A historic theater that tells centuries of culture and performance.
CURIOSITY
The Teatro degli Animosi was built in 1792 at the will of the Accademia degli Animosi, a group of local nobles passionate about art and culture. It was probably designed by the same architect as Florence’s Teatro Niccolini and constructed in Tuscan-Doric style by the Mughini Company of Como. Completed in 1806, it was equipped from the start with an innovative hot-air heating system.
In 1892, for the centenary, a plaque was installed listing the founders’ names, still visible today in the foyer. In the early 1900s, the theater underwent major renovations: the roof was reinforced, a new hoist was installed for the central chandelier, and the ceiling was decorated with a hot-air balloon, the Academy’s symbol, accompanied by the motto “All roads are open to the Animosi.” Engineer Lorenzo Fabbri, who designed the local hydroelectric plant, installed the electric lighting free of charge.
n 1938, after the Academy was dissolved, the building was purchased by the Railway Workers’ Recreation Club. During World War II, bombings damaged the façade and the stalls area. After temporary repairs, the theater remained active until 1970, when it was declared unfit for use. Bought by the Municipality, it was restored over twenty years and reopened with high-level theatrical seasons. In 1997, the entrance wing with ticket office and cloakroom was rebuilt. Today, the Teatro degli Animosi continues to host performances and cultural events and retains its charm, with 80 seats, 33 boxes on three tiers, and the evocative central stage.
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