Piazze dei Teatri

Piazze dei Teatri (Squares of Theaters) are a complex of squares and streets in Reggio Emilia, located in the northern part of the historical center of the city.

The squares are overlooked by the three main theaters of Reggio Emilia – Teatro Romolo Valli, Teatro Ludovico Ariosto and Teatro Cavallerizza.

Piazze dei Teatri are composed of the following squares – Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio 1960, located in front of the Romolo Valli Municipal Theater, and Piazza della Vittoria, located in front of the Ludovico Ariosto Theater.

SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZE DEI TEATRI

From the beginning of the 19th century, the area underwent numerous transformations.

Originally, the Cittadella Theater and the Ducal Palace overlooked this area. Both structures were demolished around the middle of the 19th century, and their place was taken by the Ludovico Ariosto Theater and the Romolo Valli Municipal Theater.

The square in front of the Ariosto Theater, with the war memorial of the First World War, was the so-called Piazza d’Armi, renamed Piazza della Vittoria after 1918.

Piazze dei Teatri

ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZE DEI TEATRI

In the western part of Piazza della Vittoria, there is the Ludovico Ariosto Theater, built starting with 1878 on the remains of the Citadella Theater, which was destroyed by fire on the night of April 21, 1851.

Near the Ariosto Theater, we can find the Cavallerizza Theater. The building of the current theater was used to train horses until the Second World War, and was subjected to a long restoration starting with 1984.

In the northern part of Piazza della Vittoria, there are the Public Gardens (Giardini Pubblici) of Reggio Emilia.

The park, built in 1864 to a design by Giuseppe Balzaretto, and enlarged in 1928, is adorned with numerous fountains and statues.

In the northern part of Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio 1960, we can see the Romolo Valli Municipal Theater, designed by the architect Cesare Costa of Modena, and built between 1852 and 1857.

In the eastern part of Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio 1960, there is the Church of Saint Francis (Chiesa di San Francesco), built in the second half of the 13th century and rebuilt starting with 1725.

Adjacent to the Church of Saint Francis, we can find Palazzo della Banca d’Italia.

Piazze dei Teatri – Piazza della Vittoria

HOW TO GET TO PIAZZE DEI TEATRI

Piazze dei Teatri are located about 1 kilometer away from the Reggio Emilia railway station.

The closest bus stop to Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio 1960 is located in Via Nobili, on the bus Line H.

The closest bus stop to Piazza della Vittoria is located in front of the Ariosto Theater, in Viale Antonio Allegri, on the bus Line G.