Cesare Caporali Municipal Theatre

The current Caporali Theatre was born as “Teatro del Sole – Sun Theatre” in 1786 and was built entirely in wood. It was financed by a dozen well-off families of Pancale, who founded a company called “Theatrical Academy”. Its original structure was quite simple: a large rectangular room, a stage and a balcony fixed to the stalls. Over the years there was a need for a complete renovation and in 1856 the Umbrian architect Giovanni Caproni was summoned. The horseshoe plan, increasing the number of boxes (24 plus 6 proscenium) and gallery with iron railings were all an idea of Caproni, who took the prestigious Italian theatres of that period as a model. He also recommended a new name at the time of its reopening in 1858: “Cesare Caporali Theatre” after the well-known 16th century poet, Academic of the Insensible of Perugia.

The monochrome decorations of the medallions that embellish the wooden structure are by the painter  Alceste Ricci and lend a touch of refinery. The backdrop was painted and donated by Mariano Piervittori in 1869, it represents the giving of the keys to the town of Perugia to Captain Boldrino Paneri, following the victory over the Bretons.

In 1958, after a local carnival festival, the Theatre was closed. On 20 August 1985, it was sold by the twelve owners to the Municipality of Panicale, who officially reopened it on 12 November 1994.
 A place of culture par excellence, the Theatre hosts the season of prose, chamber music concerts, operas, productions by the Sun Company and cultural gatherings.