The combined text of the legislative proposals aimed at declaring Italian theatres ‘national monuments’ was approved with 172 yes, 46 no and 65 abstentions in the Chamber, yesterday.
The provision, which contains a list of 408 theatres and has been substantially rewritten, with two amendments presented by the Culture Commission chaired by Federico Mollicone, now passes to the Senate.
In the newly approved text, in addition to a new list of 408 theatres (compared to the original 46), which would deserve recognition as ‘national monuments’, it is foreseen that they can still be declared as such, “theatres whose construction dates back to at least 100 years ” or those “whose programming is aimed at live entertainment activities with public financial assistance”.
Those theatres “whose building” has been recognised as being of “cultural interest” are also entitled to recognition. With the two maxi-amendments presented by the Culture Commission of the Chamber, is the part of the text which provided that, “within 6 months from the date of entry into force of the law” would introduce a “Regulation adopted by decree of the Minister of Culture” to establish the criteria and procedure “for conferring the qualification of national monument to other historic theatres”.
Which theatres are on the list?
In the long list of theatres that can be considered ‘national monuments’ several Roman theatres appear, starting with the Teatro dell’Opera, the Brancaccio, the Elysée, the Argentina, the Valle, the Quirino, the Rossini, the Sala Umberto and also the Salone Margherita.
The list also includes La Scala and Dal Verme in Milan; ‘La Fenice’ and the Goldoni of Venice; the ‘Carlo Felice’ of Genoa; the Teatro del Maggio musical in Florence; the San Carlo in Naples; Massimo and Bellini of Palermo; the Greek theatre of Syracuse; the Civic of Cagliari, Algeria and Sassari.
Read: 5 best opera theatres in Italy
As well as numerous theatres in almost all Italian provinces. The implementation of this law “must not result in new or greater burdens on public finances”. The various competent administrations “provide for this within the human, financial and instrumental resources available under current legislation”.
