Ariosto Theatre

Address and contacts

Corso Cairoli, 1 - 42121 Reggio nell'Emilia
0039 0522 458811
Fondazione i Teatri
GiraReggio

Opening times

The theater is normally accessible only for performances or events

Prices

According to the on going performance or event

How to get there

Reggio nell'Emilia - Town centre

Located in the town centre, it is possible to reach it on foot after parking the car at ex caserma Zucchi and going across Viale Allegri.
From the Railway Station: by bus in the direction of the town centre.

Historical notes

It was rebuilt in 1878 respecting the original project and dedicated to Ludovico Ariosto, the great poet born in Reggio Emilia in 1474. It hosts mainly theatre performances.

The reconstruction of 1878 followed the "politeama" concept, that is, a theatre which can be used both for theatrical and equestrian events. According to the London and Paris models borrowed by all the Italian "politeama", the theatre had a cast iron structure; the cavea took on a semi-circular form; the box arrangement, maintained for the second tier, was replaced in the first and third tiers by single galleries. The orchestra pit was added in 1927 and the structures required for the equestrian shows were removed. At the same time the Theatre was completely redecorated by Anselmo Govi with late Art Nouveau style frescoes: the ones on the dome are particularly interesting, depicting the adventures of Orlando Furioso, and surrounded by a band citing the opening verses of the poem. In 1981 the Theatre underwent a series of restoration works: cleaning, demolition of precarious areas, strengthening or rebuilding of the floor structures (the stage first of all), and the laying of new flooring.