The Gugliemi Theatre
In the 19th century the people of Massa longed to have, as other towns of the region, a new large theatre, which could meet the cultural requirements of one of the province chief towns.
The old crumbling theatre was at that time situated behind the Doges' palace, where later the offices and the rooms of the law-court resided.
In 1868 the civil administration began to think about building a new structure, but the conflict with other citizens, who only wanted the restoration of the old one, let a lot of time pass before the final decision.
In 1877 the construction was finally decided and the administration acquired some grounds next to the Bastione road giving the architect Vincenzo Micheli this task.
Just three years later the brickwork was finished, but it was necessary to wait 6 years for the end of the building, cause there weren't any funds for the equipment.
On April 25th 1886 the Guglielmi City Theatre was inaugurated in the presence of authorities and citizens. The first opera represented was "Mary of Rohan" by Gaetano Doninzetti. The theatre owes its name to the famous musician Pietro Alessandro Guglielmi, who was born in Massa in 1728.
At first there were not only prose works and operas, but also charity performances with amateur players, singing competitions, parties, masked balls and even the first silent films were shown in that theatre.
Inside the theatre
Decorative scenery by A. Gatti "The Venetian Triumph"
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