Discovering the Politeama Theater of Palermo

The building is an important example of Neoclassical architecture.It has a large entrance by way of triumphal arch topped by the bronze quadriga designed by Mario Rutelli. This quadriga depicts the "Triumph of Apollo and Euterpe" flannked by two statues of knights on horseback, representation of the "Olympic Games", work of Benedetto Civiletti. On both sides of the entrance there are commemorative plaques recording the epigraphs dictated by the historian Isidoro La Lumia.] At the top there are two bass reliefs depicting the "Fames" draw by the painter Giuseppe Pensabene and another, under the quadriga, depicting little angels, work of Mario Rutell
Around the entrance a semicircular structure develops with two orders of colonnade. A rich polychrome decoration, both within and outside the theatre, was made by eminent local painters like Nicolò Giannone, Luigi Di Giovanni, Michele Corteggiani, Giuseppe Enea, Rocco Lentini, Enrico Cavallaro, Carmelo Giarrizzo, Francesco Padovano, Giovanni Nicolini and Gustavo Mancinelli.[ In the lateral gardens there are the sculptures of a Bacchante (work of Valerio Villareale), of a Sylph (work of Benedetto De Lisi) and of David (work of Antonio Ugo).

In 1864 the municipality of Palermo launched an international competition for the construction of a monumental opera house (the Teatro Massimo) and, a year later, an internal competition for the construction of a diurnal multi-purpose theatre (hence the name "Politeama" from the Greek language).
The architectural project was assigned to Giuseppe Damiani Almeyda. The theatre would have to be built on the border of the monumental structure of Palermo, as an ideal point of reference of the city's expansion. Therefore, unlike the "aristocratic" Teatro Massimo, the Politeama would have to house more popular shows (operetta, festivals, equestrian shows, etc.).

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Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

[Licio]

Grazie per queste meravigliose immagini del teatro Politeama di Palermo.

[Parmesana]

thank you for sharing. Wow..what a beautiful place. All of those carved reliefs were amazing. The entrance salon reminded me of Pedrocchi Cafe' in Padua.