Teatro Olimpico

About the museum

The Teatro Olimpico was Palladio’s last masterpiece. It was commissioned in February 1580 by the Accademia Olimpica, an association of Vicenza’s personalities of letters, science and the arts, of which Palladio himself was a member. The design was inspired by theatres “all’antica” (in the ancient style), in the wake of the Renaissance rediscovery of the writings of Vitruvius, and it also served as a place of self-celebration for the Vicenza aristocracy.

Construction began in May 1580, but Palladio did not see it completed because of his sudden death. After complex events the theatre was completed five years later and inaugurated on 3 March 1585 with a performance of Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus. It is entered through the Odeo and the Antiodeo, two halls designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi and decorated with frescoes by Francesco Maffei and with a monochrome frieze.

In an enclosed space that simulates the open-air setting of classical theatres, Palladio placed a monumental scaenae frons between two side wings and a semi-elliptical cavea of thirteen tiers, closed by a colonnaded exedra. The niches hold statues of the Academicians who commissioned the theatre, dressed in the ancient manner, and the highest order has reliefs with the Stories of Hercules. From the three openings of the scaenae frons, the wooden perspectives of the streets of Thebes branch out; made by Scamozzi for the inaugural performance, they have remained in place ever since.

Highlights

• The oldest covered theatre in the world
• Palladio’s monumental scaenae frons
• Scamozzi’s wooden perspectives of the streets of Thebes
• Semi-elliptical cavea with statues of the Academicians
• Odeo and Antiodeo with frescoes by Francesco Maffei

Permanent exhibition

• Teatro Olimpico di Andrea Palladio – Visit to the Renaissance theatre with the Odeo, Antiodeo, cavea, scaenae frons and the wooden perspectives of the streets of Thebes.

Operated by

Comune di Vicenza – Musei Civici

Visitors per year

approx. 142,116

Admission & discounts

The single ticket is valid for one day from the date of purchase. Reduced fares and free admissions are available only at the physical ticket offices; the online ticket is at the full rate. Free admission also for military and uniformed police, journalists, ICOM members and tourist guides registered in the national list. Cards and agreements are available. The ticket offices are at the Ufficio IAT in Piazza Matteotti 12 and at the Basilica Palladiana.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The standard route has a flight of steps with a handrail down to the basement level. People using a wheelchair or with mobility difficulties can enter by the direct route from Stradella del Teatro Olimpico 8, which leads to the Antiodeo and the theatre by a ramp with an 8% gradient. Due to works, the entrance is temporarily from Stradella del Teatro Olimpico, numbers 6 and 8, with a 10 cm step and a 2 cm step. There is space for two wheelchairs on the gallery of the cavea. An accessible toilet with a changing table is on the ground floor; audio description of the show Suoni e Luci and a guide in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) are available.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

Changing table in the accessible toilet on the ground floor.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Coat check: not available

There is no cloakroom. The Musei Civici bookshop is temporarily at the Basilica Palladiana; strollers can be left in the bookshop room.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit