Nuovo Teatro Verdi

The Nuovo Teatro Verdi in Brindisi stands above the Roman remains of San Pietro degli Schiavoni. Its raised steel structure leaves the archaeological site visible beneath the theatre, including through a glass section in the foyer floor.

Why it matters

The theatre's design responds to the discovery of Roman streets and buildings beneath the site. Architect Enrico Nespega proposed a suspended structure that would preserve the remains below. The theatre opened on 20 December 2006 with Riccardo Muti conducting the Orchestra Luigi Cherubini.

What to notice

The glass floor in the foyer provides a view of the excavation below. The auditorium has 995 seats, and the stage measures more than 25 metres across. A bronze relief by sculptor Amerigo Tot marks the façade. The steel frame is designed to span the archaeological remains rather than replace them.

Context and history

Brindisi's earlier Teatro Verdi, in Piazza Cairoli, was demolished in the 1960s. In 1964, archaeological remains were discovered during work in the San Pietro degli Schiavoni quarter. The municipality commissioned Nespega's design in 1966; construction was structurally complete in the 1970s but delayed by heritage reviews and contractor disputes. The new theatre was inaugurated in 2006. Its auditorium and excavation beneath it bring the city's modern performance architecture into direct contact with the Roman urban fabric.