Italian culture ministry announces acquisition of landmark venue following devastating fire.
The Italian state has moved to safeguard the future of one of Naples’ most cherished cultural landmarks, Teatro Sannazaro, following a massive fire that gutted the building last month.
“The ministry of culture will purchase the theatre and provide its managers with a space, which could also be within the Palazzo Reale, so that theatrical activities can continue”, culture minister Alessandro Giuli said in a statement on Wednesday.
Giuli added that it “will be a collaborative effort” to ensure continuity for the extended “Sannazaro family, which includes the owners, the managers, and, above all, the community that will continue to thrive”.
The announcement came following a meeting between Giuli and local authorities, including Naples mayor Gaetano Manfredi and the president of the Campania region, Roberto Fico.
Fire
The fire, which broke out in the early hours of 16 February, caused extensive damage to the 19th-century interior, including the historic stalls and the ornate ceiling.
Initial investigations have suggested the fire may have been accidental, possibly triggered by an electrical short circuit in an adjacent apartment block before spreading to the theatre.
The news of the destruction sparked a wave of grief across Naples, where the theatre – known as the “bomboniera” of Via Chiaia – has served as a vital hub for Neapolitan tradition and avant-garde performance for almost 180 years.
A brief history of the theatre
The Teatro Sannazaro was inaugurated on 26 December 1847 and was built on the site of a former Mercedarian monastery.
Designed by the architect Fausto Niccolini for the Duke of Marigliano, the theatre was envisioned as an intimate, horseshoe-shaped “Salotto” (drawing room) for the Neapolitan bourgeoisie.
Throughout its history, the Sannazaro became the spiritual home of Neapolitan tradition, hosting legendary Italian actors such as Eduardo Scarpetta along with international titans including Sarah Bernhardt and Eleonora Duse.
After a period of decline mid-century when it briefly functioned as a cinema, the theatre underwent a historic revival in 1971.
Actress Luisa Conte and her husband Nino Veglia restored the Sannazaro to its former Rococo glory which included gilded stuccoes and frescoes by Vincenzo Paliotti.
Conte’s granddaughter Lara Sansone ensured the theatre remained a vibrant cultural hub, preserving the Café Chantant style and Neapolitan comedy, until tragedy struck last month with the dawn blaze.
