Facade of the Bibiena Theater

The facade was completed after the construction of the theatre. The designer, the winner of a public competition held after Bibiena had fallen out of favour, is the architect Giuseppe Piermarini (Foligno 1734, Foligno 1808). A pupil of the Vanvitelli, Piermarini is famous for having designed the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. His work is representative of a rigorous Neoclassicism; Bibiena indeed was accused of being too much influenced by Renaissance models. The actual construction of the facade was carried out by Paolo Pozzo from Verona, who completed the external part of the building in 1775. It is important to notice that the neoclassical addition did not in any way interfere with the great internal hall, that today is universally praised for its magnificent beauty.