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The Bibiena Theatre (Teatro Bibiena), also called the Bibiena Scientific Theatre (Teatro Scientifico del Bibiena) or Scientific Theatre (Teatro Scientifico), is located in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Mantua, Italy.
History
The theatre was built by Antonio Bibiena in 1767 and officially opened on December 3, 1769. A few weeks after its opening, a 13 year old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed in a concert there. In addition to concerts, the theatre also hosted conferences, conventions, and scientific discourses, hence the name Scientific Theatre (Teatro Scientifico).
Admission
Today, the theatre is still used for its original purpose but is also a museum. Admission to visit the theatre is €3 (as of August 2024) and free for holders of the Mantova Card. It’s open daily except Mondays.
The Theatre
The intimate theatre, which has a capacity of just over 350 people, has an odd curvy shape. Balconies fill the entire theatre, even behind the stage where the scenery should be.
There are four stories of balconies surrounding the main seating area and two rows of balconies on the sides and behind the stage. Several original monochrome frescoes can also be found throughout the interior.
Marani Gardens
A short walk from Teatro Bibiena are the Marani Gardens (Giardini Marani). This public park is located on the shores of Lower Lake (Lago Inferiore), one of the three remaining artificial lakes created in the 12th century to improve Mantua’s natural defenses. The lakes were created by widening the Mincio River.
Along the shore of the lake, there’s a gravel path and benches to sit and enjoy the scenery. In the summer, you can also find companies that take visitors on lake cruises.
