Teatro Farnese Teatro Farnese, Parma, Italy. (more) Teatro Farnese theater, Parma, Italy Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Teatro-Farnese Feedback Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Farnese Theatre Written by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Teatro Farnese, Italian Baroque theatre at Parma, Italy, the prototype of the modern playhouse and the first surviving theatre with a permanent proscenium arch. Construction on the Teatro Farnese was begun in 1618 by Giovanni Battista Aleotti for Ranuccio I Farnese, and it officially opened in 1628. At one end of the large, rectangular wooden structure was a stage area designed for deep-perspective scenery and spectacular effects. The stage area, divided in half by two half walls, had provision for three sets of side wings and a back shutter in the front and four sets of wings or shutters in the rear. A proscenium arch, placed at the front of the stage, was decorated with paintings and statues set into niches. A large U-shaped open area (pit, or parterre) was used for dancing, royal processions, and other courtly entertainments; it could even be flooded for water spectacles. Rows of benches ringed this area in a stadium fashion. Above the benches were two rows of arches topped by a small gallery with statues. The Farnese was renovated in the early 1700s by Filippo Juvarra and rebuilt following its destruction during World War II.

　　This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.