The system of 18th- and 19th-century 'teatri condominiali' community theatres in central Italy has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the culture ministry announced.
“It is with pride and satisfaction that we welcome the decision” made during a meeting of the UN agency in South Korea said Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli in a press release on Sunday.
The word “condominio” means “co-ownership” in Italian. The theatres “represent a unique phenomenon in the history of architecture and theater as a social and cultural institution,” the ministry said.
“Born out of the direct participation of citizens, who shared ownership, management, and attendance, they contributed significantly to the development of cultural and social life in the regions” of central Italy during the 18th and 19th centuries, it added.
“This is a widespread heritage, comprising buildings of particular elegance and a civic tradition that has made the theatre a defining element of these communities’ identity".
