Teatro Petruzzelli

Fun Facts

• • A hidden piece of history is the original signature of the theatre's name, which was forged in iron and remains a tactile link to the building's 1903 origins.
• • During its period of silence, the theatre was a stark symbol of public loss, and its reconstruction became a major political and social crusade for the people of Bari.
• • In 1945, the theatre received official recognition as a Monument of historical and artistic interest, cementing its importance to the nation.
• • Initially designed as a politeama meant to host everything from circuses to operas, legal disputes regarding the lack of horse stables forced it to be reclassified as a traditional theatre.
• • Over the decades, the stage welcomed legendary international stars ranging from Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles to Liza Minnelli and Rudolf Nureyev.
• • The 1991 fire was ruled to be arson, leading to one of the most complex and long-running legal sagas in Italian history regarding property ownership and reconstruction responsibility.
• • The acoustical quality of the new hall was rigorously tested before the reopening, ensuring that the legendary sound which defined the original theatre was reclaimed.
• • The interior was originally dripping with opulence, featuring extensive use of pure gold leaf to decorate the ornate carvings and stucco work.
• • The legendary Italian actor Alberto Sordi chose the theatre as the primary setting for his film Polvere di stelle, forever capturing its mid-century grandeur on celluloid.
• • The majestic cupola, which dominates the exterior view today, is a faithful reconstruction of the original, although the historic frescoes painted by Raffaele Armenise were sadly lost in the blaze.
• • The theatre is famously part of the Bari 'Theatre Mile', a cluster of historic venues that define the city's cultural geography.
• • The theatre was commissioned by two brothers, Onofrio and Antonio Petruzzelli, who were local merchants and shipowners with a passion for the arts.