2, Piazza Mazzini

Open

from 15/10 to 31/03

Mon 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.;

Tue - Sun 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

from 01/04 to 14/10

Mon 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.;

Tue - Sun 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. / 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Ticket Office

Infopoint piazza Mazzini 

Adult: € 3.00; Reduced: € 2.00

Informations  

Macerata Musei

+39 0733 271709

+39 0733 256361

web     www.maceratamusei.it

e-mail  info@maceratamusei.it 

The monument   

The Sferisterio (sphaeristerium, open-air stadion) was built between 1823 and 1829 following the design of Ireneo Aleandri and works were conducted by Salvatore Innocenzi. This building displays an inscription on the facade which reads;

“ad ornamento della città a diletto pubblico la generosità di cento consorti edificò / mdcccxxix “

“dedicated to the wealthy citizens (“soci del circo”, “cento consorti” - associates), of Macerata who commissioned the building”.

The Sferisterio, which presents a long straight wall (18x88 m) and an elegant succession of 56 Doric columns with Attic basement carrying a double row of boxes, and a stone gallery. It was initially used for the “palla col bracciale” game (game with ball and bangle), which was very popular towards the first half of the 19^th century. Since 1909 it has been used for football and for the new game of “lawn-tennis”, and the surface of the arena was levelled to allow it.

The amphitheatre was designed to host different kinds of public events, for the celebration of festivities, tournaments, equestrian parades and circuses, political manifestations and even bull fights.

After a first series of theatre performances towards the end of the XIX century, they have seriously begun to thinking, since 1914 about the buildings space, created by the harmony between the Neoclassical columnade and the high rectilinear wall, as well as the large open central area, which could provide a perfect frame for the opera performances which started with some performances of Bellini’s Norma.

The first Opera season was started only in 1921 by the Earl Pier Alberto Conti, which later became the most prestigious event of the year and today is famous all over Europe, staging the Aida by Verdi, then the following year the Gioconda by Ponchielli was staged.

Thanks to the optimal natural acoustics, more than 2500 seats, 104 boxes and a very large stage, the Sferisterio organizes during summer, beyond the opera season, important musical events (musical festivals of authors’music, symphonic and jazz music).