Theatre in the Arsenal [Hvar]
type: Item
label: Theatre in the Arsenal
description: Theatre building in Hvar, Croatia
description: theater in Hvar @nl
EUTA building identifier: 1526
Importance: Not rated
Type of information: Performance venue
Field: architecture
Country: Croatia
City: Hvar
GPS: Point(16.4417 43.1722)
Wikidata source: Q12632779
opening date: 1612-01-01T00:00:00Z
theatrEurope table: HST_0114
member Perspectiv: yes
context: No heritage stage machinery. The small theatre at Hvar (1612 ) is our best surviving example of the early seventeenth-century Venetian public theatre, a type which now took its place beside the much more lavishly decorated court theatres. It is on the first floor of the old Arsenal. Hvar (Lesina) was at the time Venetian territory.
context: Between 1278 and 1797, Hvar was part of the Republic of Venice and a winter port for its fleet. In 1612, the Venetian govenor of the island, Pietro Semitecolo, had the theatre built on the first floor of the impressive Arsenal. Though much changed in the course of time, it remains the oldest communal theatre space in Europe. The present version was created in 1803, making it the oldest theatre in Croatia today. It features a tiny, Italian opera house style auditorium with two rows of boxes. Throughout its 400 years of existence, the theatre has presented quality performances of the local amateur theatre groups, a tradition that is alive today. The Arsenal and the theatre are classed as monument of national importance. The theatre is presently being restored, but can be visited on appointment.
Web: mhb.mdc.hr
Member of: PERSPECTIV
The European Route of Historic Theatres: Adriatic Route
time frame: Renaissance
time frame: Baroque
Wikidata instance: Q24354
Carthalia ID: 417
Preservation state: extant building
Preservation state: Used as theatre today
Note: Built 1612 on the first floor of the old Arsenal. The best surviving example of an early 17th century Venetian public theatre. Also known as Hvarsko povijesno Kazalište.