The Politeama Ruzzi in Vasto is a historic theater located in the heart of the city on Corso Italia, considered an architectural gem.
The facade facing Corso Italia features five arches that form the only portico in the city. On the first floor, there are three balconies and two windows. On the second floor, there are five windows. Above these windows are arches of various designs, with the largest arch above the central balcony on the first floor, which mirrors the circular pediment atop the building. The pediment is inscribed with the word “Politeama” and is crowned by an eagle.
Flanking the windows and between them are six faux columns (pilasters) that extend from the loggia up to the cornice. The external pilasters feature Art Deco floral motifs and display the coat of arms of Vasto. The keystone of the five arches of the loggia contains the letters that form the surname of the builder, Ruzzi.
The complex was commissioned by Luigi Ruzzi, a native of Vasto who emigrated to Argentina, and designed by engineer Antonio Izzi, who drew inspiration from the Viennese Secession style.
The Politeama Ruzzi was inaugurated in 1931, as indicated by the Roman numeral engraving on the entrance door, which also reads “ninth year of the Fascist era.” The theater quickly became a hub of cultural life in Vasto and was used for a variety of events, from opera to Fascist rallies. In 1943, it was the venue for a famous speech by General Montgomery, who had set up his headquarters in Vasto during the liberation march of the Allied troops. In the 1950s, the theater hosted the “Festival delle Sirene,” a blend of a beauty pageant and a talent competition.
After the war, the theater was transformed into a cinema, but by the 1980s, it began to decline and faced the risk of closure. The interior was refurbished and raised to create retail spaces on the ground floor, now opening onto Via XXIV Maggio.
Today, the theater has reopened and is used for select performances. Although the height of the interior was reduced compared to the original, it still features a main hall and two balconies. Around the stage’s proscenium, the Liberty-style friezes from the theater’s construction remain visible, along with the motto “Delectando Docet”, meaning “Teaching through Entertainment.”
However, the construction of the new balconies has hidden a frieze featuring fasces, a reminder of the theater’s inauguration during the ninth year after the March on Rome.
