Teatro Ruzante, Former theater and university building in Padua, Italy
Teatro Ruzante is a former church in Padua with Gothic architecture that now serves as a performance venue for the university. The single-nave structure features a medieval portico and asymmetrical facade, and has been outfitted with 236 seats and a stage equipped for cinema projection.
The building was constructed between the 12th and 13th centuries as the Church of San Giorgio. After Napoleonic church reforms closed it in 1808, it eventually passed into university hands for transformation.
The theater takes its name from Angelo Beolco, a playwright whose works shaped Italian theatrical traditions. The building itself reflects this legacy through the performances and cultural events held within its Gothic spaces.
The venue is located along Riviera Tito Livio and welcomes visitors for performances and events. The space accommodates theater productions and cultural activities thanks to its acoustic properties and functional seating arrangement.
During the 2005 renovation, workers discovered hidden Gothic frescoes and original stone capitals with cross vaults. These vaults were carefully recreated using modern materials while preserving their medieval character.
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