Teatro Metastasio (Metastasio Theatre), Assisi

Built in the 1830s, the Metastasio started as your typical "Italian-style theater"; however, as time passed, neglect took its toll, prompting the Provincial Supervision Commission to declare it unsuitable for public performances in 1952. By 1956, the Municipal Administration decided to overhaul the theater, stripping away its original features to turn it into a cinema. Unfortunately, decay continued over the decades. While it operated as a cinema until the 1990s, theatrical programming remained sporadic due to poor management and outdated technology.

The absence of a functioning theater in a city like Assisi led to a cultural decline. Thankfully, plans are now in motion to revive it. Redevelopment efforts began in 2020, with a budget of one million euros, slated for completion by 2024. The reopening will kick off with the ground floor hall and foyer. The "new" Metastasio will feature a unified spectator space and two additional areas, one on the ground floor and another upstairs, for smaller performances, workshops, and film screenings. Each space, with 70 seats, will be fully independent and versatile.