Like a big Sicilian theater, but in miniature
The construction of the theater, near the ancient Porta di Santa Maria on Via Grande (now Corso Umberto I), began in 1848 under the direction of the Sambucese master craftsman Girolamo Salvato and lasted three years, until 1851. The result was a jewel of 19th-century local craftsmanship, with architectural lines, structure, and style mirroring those of the major Sicilian theaters such as the Massimo and Politeama in Palermo, the Bellini in Catania, the Pirandello in Agrigento, and the Regina Margherita in Racalmuto, all built during that historical period. The “L’Idea” Theater features the traditional horseshoe-shaped layout typical of the era, with a flattened dome ceiling, a large stage, three tiers of boxes, and a stalls area with a total capacity of 251 seats. The ceiling of the stalls area and the proscenium arch were the work of master craftsman Maestro Girolamo Salvato, while Placido Carini, a Palermo artist and set designer, created the curtain and stage scenery, initially comprising a gallery, a palace, a living room, a room with a central door, a dungeon, and a forest.
The Municipal Theater: "L'Idea" of 6 Bourgeois Patrons
We are in the mid-19th century in Sambuca di Sicilia, where the local ruling class, during this historical phase, has a keen interest in literature. A group of liberal local bourgeoisie, open to artistic, literary, and patriotic influences and lovers of art, decided to invest their economic resources to create a place dedicated to art: the town theater. Domenico Giacone, Salvatore Merlini, Salvatore Ciaccio, Giuseppe Giacone, Antonino Oddo, and Gioacchino La Genca were six private citizens of Sambuca at the time, representing the progressive and enlightened ruling class of the era. They were passionate about theatrical and operatic performances, but their interest extended beyond that. Their commitment to the intellectual development and social progress of the town led them to spearhead multiple promotional initiatives on their own, one of which was the establishment of the "L’Idea" Theater.
The extraordinary historical and artistic events of a small 19th-century artisanal jewel
In 1886, the owners, descendants of the families who had built the theater, found themselves unable to sustain the management and maintenance costs due to changed historical and economic conditions. They sold the theater to the municipality, which began restoration work. The building was in a state of disrepair: water damage, dust, and rats had destroyed the beautiful scenes painted by Placido Carini. A competition then emerged among the Sambucese artisans, driven by enthusiasm and "patriotic sentiment," to improve the theater. A skylight was installed in the center of the ceiling to provide light and air to the stalls area. The cabinetmakers repaired the wooden structures, and the painter-decorator Domenico Ferrara (who also created the Venetian-style lighting in the Church of Maria SS. dell’Udienza) decorated and painted all the wonderful scenes and fine Liberty-style fresco decorations, preserving their original motifs and colors. Thus, at the end of the 19th century, having been restored for public use, the theater hosted important theater companies and famous actors such as Angelo Musco, Rosina Anselmi, Zoppelli, and Zappalà.
A cinematic interlude, the earthquake, the restorations, and a new life
At the end of the 1950s, following the cinema boom, the building, managed by a private company, was occasionally used as a movie theater, but it was closed in the early 1960s. Damaged by the terrible earthquake that devastated the entire Belice Valley in January 1968, it underwent extensive restoration in the early 1970s (the second after the one done at the end of the 19th century). The consolidation and restructuring works preserved the original structure. The building was furnished and reopened to the public in 1992 with a theater season attended by the entire Belice community. Today, it is managed by a municipal institution. During the restoration, the facade did not undergo major changes. Only the main entrance, accessed by a white marble staircase, was enhanced with an elegant glass and wrought-iron canopy. Upon entering the main entrance, you reach the foyer with the ticket office on the left. From here, three staircases, one main and two lateral, lead to the stalls and boxes. The interior is illuminated by a grand chandelier made of Bohemian glass. On the second floor, there is another small foyer: the ridotto.
A vibrant place of extraordinary cultural activities for the entire Valle del Belìce
Today, the "L'Idea" Theater serves as an essential cultural and social hub not only for Sambuca but also for the entire Belìce Valley and a broader region. "L'Idea" has also been a center for theatrical and musical training, hosting conferences and cultural activities open to all forms of expression. In addition to evening performances, matinées are organized for students of all grades from schools in the Belìce area. Over time, the stage has hosted great artists such as Oreste Lionello, Katia Ricciarelli, Gianfranco D’Angelo, Nando Gazzolo, Gianrico Tedeschi, Paola Quattrini, Lando Buzzanca, and Valeria Valeri. More recently, it has welcomed renowned actors, singers, and entertainers like Enrico Lo Verso, Pif, Galatea Ranzi, Alessandro Preziosi, Debora Caprioglio, Mario Venuti, and I Soldi Spicci.
