{"id":242073,"date":"2024-08-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=242073"},"modified":"2024-08-01T07:14:53","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T07:14:53","slug":"hidden-in-plain-sight-the-worlds-oldest-indoor-theater","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=242073","title":{"rendered":"Hidden in plain sight, the world’s oldest indoor theater"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
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\n
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\n \"VICENZA,
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\n <\/span>
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\n VICENZA, Italy – Photo of a concert held in Teatro Olimpico last
year
(Photo Credit: (Courtesy Photo))<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

VICENZA, Italy \u2013 When Valeria Caf\u00e0 describes Teatro Olimpico, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world\u2019s oldest indoor theater, she calls it a \u201chidden gem right in the heart of Vicenza.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caf\u00e0, Director of the Museums in Vicenza, is proud of architect Andrea Palladio\u2019s last work of art \u2013 a theater finished shortly after his death in 1580 \u2013 that is one of Vicenza\u2019s top tourist attractions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt represents the historical and architectural value of the city of Vicenza,\u201d Caf\u00e0 said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Americans new to Vicenza often find themselves strolling downtown along the main thoroughfare, the Corso Palladio, named for the architect. At one end, near Piazza Matteotti, there is a high stone wall.<\/p>\n

Almost hidden in plain sight, amongst the nearby palaces and villas, is an often unnoticed wrought iron sign above an archway. It reads \u201cTeatro Olimpico.\u201d And without a second glance, one might walk right past it.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>
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\n VICENZA, Italy – View of the courtyard of the Teatro Olimpico<\/p>\n

(Photo Credit: Photo by Stefanie Pless-Mosley, 22 September 2022)<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

<\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
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While difficult for passersby to spot, visitors to Vicenza would regret not stopping to peer inside the gates into a placid courtyard where life seems to stop and the noises are muffled. Along the anonymous facade, vines climb gracefully behind statues showing signs of the time.<\/p>\n

Nothing really prepares visitors for the incredible spectacle inside the theater. When Edward Rosario, a logistics management specialist at Logistics Readiness Center Italy, first went there in 2017 with the Army Community Service\u2019s \u201cBenvenuti\u201d program for newcomers, he was impressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe theater\u2019s stunning design and intricate details left me absolutely amazed,\u201d Rosario said. \u201cI think everyone should visit it at least once while they are here.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In 1579, the Accademia Olimpica tasked Palladio to create the theater. One of the most influential architects in history, Palladio designed nearly one hundred buildings between villas and palaces scattered throughout the Veneto region, Caf\u00e0 said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he passed away in August of 1580, his unfinished projects were picked up by architect Vincenzo Scamozzi, who carried on Palladio\u2019s heritage and brought his visions to life,\u201d Caf\u00e0 said.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
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\n \"VICENZA,
\n <\/a>
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\n VICENZA, Italy – Front view of the scene with the famous optical illusion created by architect Vincenzo Scamozzi
(Photo Credit: Photo by Giuseppe Terrasi, 14 July 2024))<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Scamozzi masterfully created a set design consisting of seven streets which, through forced perspective, appear to stretch into the distance, effectively giving the illusion of a three-dimensional scene. This technique, called trompe-l’\u0153il<\/em>, <\/em>is more commonly used in paintings. Teatro Olimpico is an early example of it being used in architecture.<\/p>\n

Jerry Brees, a longtime employee of U.S. Army Garrison Italy who serves as the director of the Soldiers\u2019 Theatre on Caserma Ederle, said that having Teatro Olimpico so close to post is remarkable.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur Vicenza military community has the rare opportunity to not only visit a historic, architecturally unique building, but more importantly, the advantage of being able to attend and participate in classical music concerts, opera performances, jazz ensembles, dances, and theatre events that bring us together with our Italian neighbors and friends,\u201d Brees said.<\/p>\n

In 2023, Soldiers\u2019 Theatre partnered with Teatro Olimpico for the premiere of Americans in Vicenza<\/em>, a play based on a collection of short stories describing the 1955 arrival of the first Americans in Vicenza.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe cultural exchange, the diversity, and partnership gave our community a unique opportunity to attend performances in both English and Italian,\u201d Brees said.<\/p>\n

Outside Teatro Olimpico, a visitor\u2019s office can provide details for Americans stationed in Vicenza to see the theater and other city museums. More information can be found at: https:\/\/www.teatrolimpicovicenza.it\/en\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

VICENZA, Italy – Photo of a concert held in Teatro Olimpico lastyear (Photo Credit: (Courtesy Photo)) VIEW ORIGINAL VICENZA, Italy \u2013 When Valeria Caf\u00e0 describes Teatro Olimpico, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world\u2019s oldest indoor theater, she calls it a \u201chidden gem right in the heart of Vicenza.\u201d Caf\u00e0, Director of the Museums […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":242075,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-242073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242073","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=242073"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242073\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":242078,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242073\/revisions\/242078"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/242075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=242073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=242073"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=242073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}