Museo del Teatro De' Vigilanti "Renato Cioni"
Historic 19th-century theatre in Portoferraio, linked to Napoleon’s stay on Elba, with four tiers of boxes; visits are charged.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Teatro dei Vigilanti stands in the centre of Portoferraio on the site of a 17th-century chapel, which was transformed in the 18th century into the church of the Carmine and later used as a military store. In 1814, during Napoleon’s stay on the island of Elba, a small theatre was designed inside the building, with a horseshoe-shaped auditorium, 65 boxes on four tiers and an upper gallery.
The theatre opened on 24 January 1815. After Napoleon’s departure, activity continued under the name Teatro dei Vigilanti. In the 20th century the auditorium was renovated, and in 1937 it was converted into a cinema-theatre, an activity that ceased in 1952. Bought by the Comune di Portoferraio in 1974, the theatre underwent restoration and, after works largely financed with PNRR funds (Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan), it reopened to the public in 2024 under the name Teatro dei Vigilanti “Renato Cioni”.
Today the auditorium can be visited during the day and hosts theatre and music performances. During the works, wall paintings in the boxes emerged, probably dating from the Napoleonic era. The theatre is one of the sites included in the Cosmopoli Card.
Highlights
- Horseshoe-shaped auditorium with 65 boxes on four tiers
- Link with Napoleon’s stay on Elba (1814–1815)
- Wall paintings in the boxes revealed during restoration
- Included in the Cosmopoli Card
- Operated by
- Comune di Portoferraio (gestione: Cosimo de' Medici srl)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 7,000
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6boys aged 9 to 18, groups and school parties (minimum 15 people), university students, over-70s, holders of the Elba mobility pass and EdumuseiCard |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 8 · Free up to age 8. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Free for people with disabilities and one companion. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €6 per person |
| Cosmopoli Card (7 days; Fortezze, Museo della Linguella, Teatro dei Vigilanti, Pinacoteca and Villa Romana delle Grotte) | €20Reduced €15; family (minimum 3 people) €15 per person. |
Free admission also for residents of Portoferraio, school groups from Portoferraio, licensed tourist guides on duty, journalists registered with the Ordine dei Giornalisti and holders of an ICOM membership card.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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