The Italia Theatre in Cannaregio

Along the busy road linking Santa Lucia train station to the Rialto Bridge in Venice there stands a peculiar neo-Gothic building with the writing 'Teatro Italia’ on its façade.

It was built in 1915 by the architect Giovanni Sardi in typical Venice Gothic style, particularly evident in the recourse to the single and triple lancet windows of the Doge’s Palace in St Mark’s Square and of Palazzo Foscari in Dorsoduro (now a site of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice).

If you look at its façade you will see two coats of arms at the level of the first storey and a winged lion in the middle of the balustrade on the roof. The four wrought iron entrance gates and the indoor chandeliers were designed by Umberto Bellotto.

The Venetian painter Alessandro Pomi (1890- 1976) painted an allegory entitled The Glory of Italy in the centre of the ceiling of the main hall, while the Friuli-born Guido Marussig, together with other local artists, made the Art Nouveau interior decorations. It was one of the first examples of a building which relied on the use of iron and armoured concrete.

The history of the Italia Theatre is an articulated one: it was first converted into a cinema, then remained closed for many years and finally became the site of the university offices; after a long restoration it has recently been reopened and converted into a supermarket.

If you are interested in discovering the history of other fascinating buildings in Venice, contact us to arrange an exclusive private guided tour!