Demolition of 1920s Theatre in Gambassi Terme Sparks Outrage

The new multipurpose center in Gambassi Terme, a Tuscan spa town, has opened to the public, replacing the old Teatro Comunale, a unique 1920s social architecture monument. Built between 1920 and 1927 as the Casa della Cultura per il Popolo, the theatre was designed by architect Arcadio Ferranti and engineer Enrico Marabotti. It was originally a tribute to local youth who died in World War I, later became a Fascist party headquarters in 1929, was damaged during WWII, and reopened as a Casa del Popolo until 1963, after which it fell into decay. In 2021, the municipal administration led by mayor Paolo Campinoti chose demolition over restoration, despite protests from the committee 'Salviamo il teatro di Gambassi' and a petition. The Soprintendenza declared the building lacked historical-artistic interest on two occasions. The new Centro Polivalente Casa del Platano, a two-story white cube with red beams, cost over €1.1 million and was completed in less than two years, inaugurated on December 3. It includes a public meeting hall, a terrace, a loggia, and a 150 sqm open area, with a parking lot replacing the stage. The building was immediately vandalized with stencil graffiti. The committee publicly condemned the demolition as a gratuitous cancellation of community identity and historical memory.