UNESCO recognition and promotion of Marche historic theaters

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has inscribed the ‘Italianate community theater system of the 18th and 19th centuries in central Italy’ onto its World Heritage List. This designation includes ten venues across the Marche, Emilia-Romagna, and Umbria regions, specifically highlighting a ‘condominial’ model where local communities participated in the construction and management of these social hubs.

Following this recognition, the Marche region announced the inaugural ‘Giornata dei Teatri Storici delle Marche’ (Marche Historic Theatres Day) for October 4. Part of the 2025-2027 Three-Year Culture Plan, the event seeks to promote the region’s network of 62 historic theaters.

As celebrations for the UNESCO recognition unfold, several venues have scheduled special programming. The Teatro Pergolesi in Jesi will host guided tours of its foyer, stalls, and halls, including a preview of costumes and sets for Puccini’s ‘Trittico’. In Ancona, the Teatro delle Muse will offer free visits, while the Pinacoteca Civica will provide themed tours exploring the theatrical dimensions of its paintings. In Macerata, the Lauro Rossi theater will participate with guided tours and musical interludes to celebrate its international recognition.

Additional programming includes the Annibal Caro theater in Civitanova Alta, which will host an event centered on the theme of dialogue through historical, architectural, and spiritual discussions. In Ascoli Piceno, the Teatro Ventidio Basso is launching ‘Ascoli Teatri Aperti’, a program offering educational activities and public meetings regarding the history of these historic theatrical systems.

In late September 2026, preparations for the first ‘Giornata dei Teatri Storici delle Marche’ are underway. Participating venues include the Teatro Pergolesi in Jesi, Teatro Feronia in San Severino Marche, and the Teatro Annibal Caro in Civitanova Alta, all celebrating the UNESCO recognition of the ‘Sistema dei teatri condominiali all’italiana’ (Italianate community theater system).