Teatro degli Arcimboldi, Opera house in Bicocca district, Milan, Italy
The Teatro degli Arcimboldi is an opera house in the Bicocca district that rises through seven floors and stands 40 meters tall. The main auditorium seats 2,346 visitors in a contemporary building of concrete and glass.
The house opened its doors on January 19, 2002, when Teatro alla Scala closed for renovation and needed a temporary performance venue. After the completion of those works, the site developed into an independent venue with regular programming.
Audiences here experience a wide program ranging from classical dance to modern productions in a space designed for clear acoustics and sightlines. The name recalls the Milanese artist family Arcimboldi from the 16th century, known for their fantastical portraits composed of fruit and vegetables.
The entrance sits near a metro station, making access by public transport straightforward. Performances usually take place in the evening, and it helps to arrive a little early to use the cloakroom and reach the auditorium on time.
Vittorio Gregotti and Mario Botta divided the building into three functional sections: the entrance foyer, the auditorium, and the technical tower housing stage machinery and lighting. This division remains readable from the outside and shapes the external form of the house.
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