Tuscany and theatre, two items that go together: indeed, 400 years ago Florence was the birtplace of the Melodrama. This birthplace and the interest in opera which has always characterized Tuscan peolpe, have brought to an extraordinary flourishing of buildings dedicated to theatre performances. Today Tuscany has almost 200 theatres. A richness and liveliness in culture that are unique in Europe. The enormous architectual, artistical and cultural inheritance has its evidence in the Florentine theatre La Pergola, a model which has been imitated all over the world and a starting point of the history of theatre in Tuscany. Indeed, many towns and villages have a theatre: Theatre Metastasio in Prato, Theatre Verdi in Montecatini, Theatre De Larderel in Pomarance, Teatro degli Industri in Grosseto, Theatre Verdi and Theatre Goldoni in Florence, Theatre Petrarca in Arezzo. Some are huge theatres and others are little jewels, many are “inhabitated”, that means they have an own company of players. In this sense the region of Tuscany plays an active role supporting the stable theatre, with seat at the Metastasio of Prato and the orchestra (ORT), that has its seat at the Verdi Theatre in Florence. The Region of Tuscany is undertaking the expansion of its principal lyrical theater, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and every year presents the prestigious festival founded in 1933. The region has supported the project “Città Lirica” (city opera) concerning the cities Livorno, Lucca and Pisa, which are seats of ancient theatres and of the well-known Festival Pucciniano (Puccini Festival).

Tuscany's Theatre (link)