Clitunno Theatre with curtains made by Bruschi

The theatrical tradition in Trevi dates back to Roman times, as attested by the historian Suetonius in its biografy of Tiberius and the epigraph dedicated to Lucius Succonius, which is preserved in the archaeological section of the Museum complex of St. Francis.
The theatre was built by the theatre manager Domenico Mollaioli to replace the old, impractical Clitunno theatre, which had been housed in a room in the town hall since the 17th century. Work began in 1874 and was completed three years later with funds provided by the Municipality and the city’s nobles and well-to-do, who purchased a private upper tier box for their family to attend performances.
The interior of the theatre still retains its original architectural form with a horseshoe-shaped hall, proscenium with tympanum, and a ceiling decorated according to a design by Domenico Bruschi, author of the historical curtain signed and dated 1877. It depicts the Emperor Caligula getting off the royal boat and preparing to climb up to the Tempietto to offer sacrifices to the god Clitunno.