An intense cultural life is allowed in Cagli by its historical theatre, a jewel inaugurated in 1878. It shows its beauty immediately after crossing its door and entering the foyer, where four imposing columns support an elegant cross vault enriched with multicolour decorations. The elegance of this space is a prelude to the beautiful main hall, where the seats are placed, further to the parterre, in three orders of dais and a gallery, all adorned with elegant ornaments, different on each level and all created by Alessandro Venanzi. The sides of the proscenium are guarded by statues representing the Comedy and the Tragedy and, below them, by busts of Carlo Goldoni and Vittorio Alfieri, good omens for the success of performances.
The enchantment continues when one looks up to admire the vault, skilfully painted with blue shades which create a trompe-l’oeil giving the impression of a concavity of the ceiling where allegorical representations of the seven liberal arts surround the chandelier, which hides a peculiar ruse: in fact, it can be raised and lowered by means of a mechanism, to create light effects in the hall. Another almost magical trick was also hidden in the floor, which could be lifted up to the level of the stage. Finally, looking at the beautiful curtain, a real emblem of the theatre, one is left open mouthed by the scene, also painted by Venanzi, portraying a crowd of soldiers, pages and dignitaries surrounding the pavilion of Frederick Barbarossa, who in 1162 put Cagli under siege. Such a splendid place is made lively by one of the richest theatrical activities in the Region, operating the whole year long and a reference point for Cagli’s cultural life.
Cagli