OLIMPICHETTOMuseum exhibition design at the Basilica Palladiana
Manaly curated the exhibition design for the Olimpichetto show at the Basilica Palladiana, working on an exhibition space capable of accommodating a large-scale scenic reconstruction within a monumental architectural context.A project that brings together the piece of art, light and structure, guiding visitors through a meaningful chapter of the city’s theatrical and cultural history. Discover more in the full case study.
Olimpichetto
Context
Inside the main hall of the Basilica Palladiana, a near life-size reconstruction of the Teatro Olimpico stage set is presented to the public. Originally created in 1948 to take Oedipus Rex on tour around the world, the project has been brought back to life through an exhibition conceived by the Civic Museums of Vicenza.The installation reproduces almost at a 1:1 scale the stage set of the Seven Streets of Thebes designed by Scamozzi. Measuring approximately 8 metres in height and 16 metres in length, it is a monumental structure that can only be reconstructed within an architectural space as significant as the Basilica Palladiana.Between 1949 and 1955, the Olimpichetto toured major international cultural capitals, including London, Paris, Berlin, Munich and Houston. Everywhere it was shown, it left a strong impression: after seeing it in Paris, writer Guido Piovene described it as “more beautiful than the original”. Due to the complexity of its assembly and transportation, the work had not been publicly displayed again for decades.
900
Daily visitors
1948
Construction year
Objective
Promoted by the Municipality of Vicenza, the exhibition is built around the full-scale reconstruction of the Olimpichetto and enriched with previously unpublished scientific content. It presents the results of a 14-month monitoring campaign of Scamozzi’s proscenium, carried out by the Superintendency and IUAV, alongside the screening of the restored short film L’Olimpico by Paolo Vajenti, originally awarded at the 1948 Venice Biennale.The architectural project, developed by Gabbiani e Associati, establishes a careful dialogue with the monumental space of the Basilica, while communication curated by Studio Mama supports the exhibition narrative and enhances its cultural value.The exhibition experience is conceived as immersive, combining lighting, projections and a multidisciplinary programme that brings together theatre, music and architecture, reinforcing the dialogue between Vicenza’s architectural heritage and its theatrical history.
