Olive Tree Theater

The Teatro dell'Olivo stands on the site of a wool mill; built during the 16th century, the mill went bankrupt and its owner fled the city.

In 1649 the Accademia dei Deboli, an association formed by a group of citizens of Camaiore, asked to reopen the building, so that it could host comedies and other stage performances. Starting in 1720, some interventions were made on the building: the first boxes were built and the paco was created; in 1753, 12 boxes were added to the first tier and 5 to the second tier.

But the moment of true rebirth for the theatre was 1772, on the occasion of the birth of the Compagnia del Teatro dell'Olivo, which thus explains its intentions and purposes: 'Choosing a branch laden with olives as a symbol of the company to perpetually fix as its object the formation and preservation of a good theatre, and a good comedy, I presume to outline two great reasons from which we had the strongest impulse to undertake such a difficult undertaking. The precious juice of these beneficial fruits, either changed into balm or used as a condiment, invigorates the limbs; and through it the darkest places are illuminated by the nocturnal flames, for which it serves as nourishment.

Our Commoners concurring to enjoy the public shows, which we will give in the Theater with the possible convenience, and obliged there to mingle and treat each other, to have fun together, to feel moved by the same affections, or disunited they will unite, or united they will increasingly consolidate in good correspondence: while love, the noblest and most delicate of human Passions, does not make the heart feel more sweet than then when it is inundated and softened by genial Pleasure. And here is the first benefit. And if we then have regard to the splendor of the Fatherland we flatter ourselves that our Projects will help not a little to increase it.

And is it not true that a well-trained and well-exercised Youth usually constitutes in great part this splendor? And what contributes so much to well forming the spirit of the Youth as the use and exercise of the Theater? Through it they acquire concreteness of spirit and good manner, ease of speech and suppleness of limbs, abhorrence of vices which are punished, esteem for virtues which are observed to be rewarded, and a thousand and a thousand other excellent parts. And here is the second benefit May it please God that our plans have their effect while we to give them every possible foundation proceed to establish the following articles to be observed in perpetuity by our Society and we desire in the first place. That said society instituted under the auspices of the Most Serene Republic of Lucca have as its Enterprise a branch laden with Olives with the motto Corroborant, Lucent'.

A series of works brought the structure to a conformation very close to the current one. In 1880 a third row of boxes was added, which was suppressed in 1920, and the gallery was built, later transformed into the current gallery. In 1927 the ceiling decorations were carried out by Dino Spelta, a painter from Camaiore. From 1930 to 1942 the building became a cinema theater; it was closed in 1944, following the explosion of some mines inside the building, which caused a lot of damage. Opened again for a short period, it was finally closed in 1955.

After a series of renovations, the Teatro dell'Olivo was reopened to citizens in 2003.