Teatro Nazionale di Firenze to Reopen After 40 Years Following Restoration by Marco Casamonti

Architect Marco Casamonti, through his firm Archea Associati, has restored the historic Teatro Nazionale in Florence, which had been abandoned since the 1980s. Acquired for €2 million six years ago, the total investment reached €15 million. The theater, originally built around 1650 as a shelter for children, later became a hospital and then a theater, hosting the debut of the Stenterello mask. In the 1930s it was renamed Nazionale and shifted from live performances to cinema. The restoration included structural consolidation, decorative restoration using local artisans, and the addition of a new event space with a sliding roof offering views of Florence's monuments. The theater now has 300 seats and 50 boxes, plus a bookstore-café. The reopening is expected in January 2026, initially for private use, then for public performances. Canadian pianist Hershey Felder, artistic director of Florence's oldest theater Teatro Niccolini, will play a key role in management. The project prevented the building from becoming a wellness center, as originally planned by previous owners Bl Consulting.