In the center of Florence is Italy's oldest theater – Pergola. It was built in 1656 and for more than 350 years has been considered a symbol of the city's artistic life.
“Pergola” is translated from Italian as “a gazebo entwined with grapevines.” If you look at the theater building, it immediately becomes clear where this name came from. Greenery adorns this house with its own unique decor. And yet there once used to be a cloth factory here...
In 1600, a new genre was invented in Florence – opera, but no one yet knew what a building for such performances should be like. Therefore, Pergola Theatre later became a model for all the others. Inside, tiers appeared, which were divided from one another by partitions into separate boxes. Now this surprises no one, but for the 17th century it was a major innovation. The same can be said for the underground passages beneath the stage, as well as special mechanisms for lifting and changing the scenery.
The special pride of Pergola Theatre is its unique acoustics: even the slightest rustle from the stage can be heard here. That is why many directors dreamed of getting onto this stage. By the way, it was here that the premiere of “Macbeth” - Giuseppe Verdi's famous opera - took place.
Now the theater mostly hosts regular plays, but when the season ends, the festival “Florentine Musical May” begins. At this time, opera lovers can enjoy the best productions by the greatest masters of opera art.
