Located in one of the most characteristic streets of Upper Bergamo, the S. Andrea Theatre has a particular history, full of surprises, faith and culture.
It is located in the crypt of the homonymous church, built between 1840 and 1847 on the basis of a building from the eighth century AD. During the works, the floor was raised above the road and, at the same time, an excavation on the side of the hill made it possible to gain further depth. Thanks to this it was possible to obtain the underground environment under the church. The space was intended for about a century to preserve works from other places of worship, as well as from the pre-existing one.
A first version of the S. Andrea Theatre was created by the will of the parish priest Antonio Galizzi who, in 1951, had a cinema theatre in the crypt, complete with stage, wings and curtains plus a booth for cinema projections. Over time, however, the cine-theatrical activity ceased and the space was destined for other uses, mainly an oratory and a sports space, until its closure in the 1990s.
Only in 2018, thanks to a lucky meeting, the University Theatre Centre of Bergamo accepted the difficult challenge and takes charge of the restoration and management of the hall. Thanks to the personal commitment of the teachers and CUT members but also to the parish priest of Sant'Andrea himself and to some sponsors, the underground environment of the church has finally returned to being a theatre in all respects.
The room can accommodate up to 100 people and has a unique layout: the stalls correspond to the apse and presbytery of the church above, while the curtain and stage develop under the nave.
On the sides of the curtain there are decorations depicting the masks of Harlequin and Pulcinella, made by Albano Pressato in the 1950s. From 2020 another exceptional piece has been added to the furnishings: the 1932 Steinway grand piano, formerly owned by Giorgio Zaccarelli and donated to the theatre by his children, located in the apse.
Since the reopening, the theatre is home to the CUT acting school and student association of Bergamo, as well as prestigious musical performances and exhibitions such as the 4Hands Piano Festival, seasonal events organised by the Donizetti Foundation and, from 2022, also the Bergamo Jazz Festival.
Sant'Andrea Apostolo is famous for the remarkable paintings preserved inside. Among the names of the artists who decorated it are Salmeggia, Bassano, Padovanino, Moretto da Brescia and Jacopo Palma il Giovane, just to name a few.
The church also boasts a Historical and Sacred Art Museum (since 2021), as well as the rooms of the S. Andrea University Centre with the "James A. Podboy" library.
Located in one of the most characteristic streets of Upper Bergamo, the S. Andrea Theatre has a particular history, full of surprises, faith and culture.
It is located in the crypt of the homonymous church, built between 1840 and 1847 on the basis of a building from the eighth century AD. During the works, the floor was raised above the road and, at the same time, an excavation on the side of the hill made it possible to gain further depth. Thanks to this it was possible to obtain the underground environment under the church. The space was intended for about a century to preserve works from other places of worship, as well as from the pre-existing one.
A first version of the S. Andrea Theatre was created by the will of the parish priest Antonio Galizzi who, in 1951, had a cinema theatre in the crypt, complete with stage, wings and curtains plus a booth for cinema projections. Over time, however, the cine-theatrical activity ceased and the space was destined for other uses, mainly an oratory and a sports space, until its closure in the 1990s.
Only in 2018, thanks to a lucky meeting, the University Theatre Centre of Bergamo accepted the difficult challenge and takes charge of the restoration and management of the hall. Thanks to the personal commitment of the teachers and CUT members but also to the parish priest of Sant'Andrea himself and to some sponsors, the underground environment of the church has finally returned to being a theatre in all respects.
The room can accommodate up to 100 people and has a unique layout: the stalls correspond to the apse and presbytery of the church above, while the curtain and stage develop under the nave.
On the sides of the curtain there are decorations depicting the masks of Harlequin and Pulcinella, made by Albano Pressato in the 1950s. From 2020 another exceptional piece has been added to the furnishings: the 1932 Steinway grand piano, formerly owned by Giorgio Zaccarelli and donated to the theatre by his children, located in the apse.
Since the reopening, the theatre is home to the CUT acting school and student association of Bergamo, as well as prestigious musical performances and exhibitions such as the 4Hands Piano Festival, seasonal events organised by the Donizetti Foundation and, from 2022, also the Bergamo Jazz Festival.
Sant'Andrea Apostolo is famous for the remarkable paintings preserved inside. Among the names of the artists who decorated it are Salmeggia, Bassano, Padovanino, Moretto da Brescia and Jacopo Palma il Giovane, just to name a few.
The church also boasts a Historical and Sacred Art Museum (since 2021), as well as the rooms of the S. Andrea University Centre with the "James A. Podboy" library.
