Teatro Mercadante

The Mercadante Theatre in Altamura was built through a civic subscription and inaugurated in 1895 with Saverio Mercadante’s opera La Vestale. Its history spans a century of theatrical use, a period as a cinema, closure and restoration.

Why it matters

Altamura’s theatre was planned after the death of the composer Saverio Mercadante, who was born in the city. In 1895, the centenary of his birth, local residents contributed to a public subscription; a contribution of five lire entitled subscribers to rights associated with a seat or box. Engineer Vincenzo Striccoli designed the building, and the municipality provided the site.

What to notice

The auditorium has a horseshoe plan and tiers of boxes around the stalls. A medallion portrait of Mercadante decorates the proscenium arch, and the historic curtain depicts Frederick II receiving news of the construction of Altamura’s cathedral. The facade was left less elaborate than Striccoli’s original design.

Context and history

The first stone was laid on 25 March 1895, and the theatre opened on 17 September with La Vestale. After decades of performances, the building closed in 1990 and fell into disuse. A restoration agreement was signed in 2003 by the former owners’ consortium and Teatro Mercadante s.r.l.; the restored theatre returned to use as a performance venue.