Theatre
Marrucino
One of Chieti's oldest and most iconic theatres, the Marrucino Theatre was built in the early nineteenth century, taking just four years to complete, from 1813 to December 1817. Designed by Eugenio Michitelli from Teramo, the venue was built on the perimeter walls of the deconsecrated Church of S. Stefano and S. Ignazio. Initially, it was named after San Ferdinando in honour of Ferdinand I of Bourbon, King of Naples and the Two Sicilies. However, since 1861, it has borne the name of the ancient Italic people of Marrucini. Since its inauguration, the Marrucino Theatre has established itself as a fundamental venue for opera in the Abruzzo region, showcasing 190 performances and hosting over a thousand evenings dedicated to the opera over the years.
The theatre is adorned in decorative apparatus dating back to the 1970s. A large wooden rose embellishes the ceiling, surrounded by a garland of flowers and divided into eight sectors depicting allegories of the theatrical arts and music, along with circular medallions with a gold background, displaying the profiles of great masters, Goldoni, Pergolesi, Shakespeare, Goethe, Paisiello, Alfieri, Rossini and Verdi. Additionally, it features a grand figure curtain by Giovanni Pontichelli and two terracotta figures located in the atrium.
Thanks to its breathtaking structure and prestigious reputation, The Marrucino Theatre has become a cornerstone for events and shows shaping the cultural history of the entire region. The most illustrious artists in the Italian cultural scene have graced its stages, such as Eleonora Duse, Emma and Irma Gramatica, Cesco Baseggio, Nicola Rossi Lemeni and Nanda Primavera, among many others. The building has also seen the creation of a variety of remarkable works, including the Abruzzo premiere of “La Figlia di Iorio”, staged in 1904 by Gabriele D'Annunzio.