Pietra Rosa Pollina Theater

One of the civilizations that have left the greatest traces in Sicily is undoubtedly the Greek one: just think of the Greek theaters of Syracuse, Segesta and above all the spectacular one of Taormina. Well in one small village in the province of Palermo, Pollina, there is a theater which, despite not having Greek origins, has an appearance that clearly recalls the Hellenic style: it is the Pink Stone Theatre, a place which, despite not being very old, offers a magical atmosphere, thanks to the panorama that can be admired while sitting on its bleachers.

The history of Pollina and the Teatro Pietra

The history of the Pietra Rosa Pollina Theater is linked to that of the village in which it stands: the opera was inaugurated at the end of June 1979, staging The woman of Samos of the Menander. The theater was designed by the Venetian Antonio Foscari, who was evidently inspired by the more classic Greek theatres, paying homage to the legendary origins of Pollina. In fact, the country is said to be none other than the ancient one Apollonia, a colony of Magna Graecia whose name was a tribute to Apollo, the god of medical arts, intellect, sciences, music, poetry, prophecies and light (it was in fact the god Apollo who drove the chariot of the Sun ). Apollonia is mentioned by Diodoro Siculo, Pirri, Stefano Bizantino and above all Cicerone, who tells of a Roman vessel that bore the name of Apollonia, a city located a stone's throw from Gangi.
With the arrival of the Arabs, the city changed its name to Abulloniah while with the Normans, in the XIII century, the town acquired the definitive name of Pollina.

The architecture of the Pietra Rosa Pollina Theater

To reach the Pietra Rosa theater you have to cross theArch of Sant'Antonio in Pollina and get to Pink Stone Belvedere: it is in the central part of this panoramic terrace that the theater was in fact built. Although the geometric design is evidently modern (following the shape of the steep terrain), the typical elements of the Greek theater are all there: the semicircular tiers converging towards the central scene of the stage, the ease with which people can flow in and out of the structure and especially the panoramic view. From the Teatro Rosa Pollina the panorama it is occupied, on the clearest days, by the profiles of Capo Zafferano, Capo S.Elia, Etna and the Rocca di Cefalù.
The theater takes its name from stone color used for its construction and from the dolomitic one on which it was erected: at sunset, just like in the Dolomites, the light colors these pink stones, making the atmosphere even more magical and evocative.
Summer is the season that stages the most, at the Teatro Pietra Rosa, theatrical performances and classical works of great appeal, above all those of Plautus and Euripides.

What to see and do in the surroundings

One of the things to see around the Teatro Pietra Rosa Pollina rises right above it: it is the Tower of Maurolico, erected with a square plan as part of the ancient defensive system put in place to stem the invasions of the Saracens from the sea. The Tower takes its name from the scientist Maurolico who, in the mid-500th century, made it a valid astronomical observatory. Walking through the streets of Pollina one comes across the Church of Santissimi Giovanni e Paolo, inside which valuable fifteenth and sixteenth century works are preserved, including the marble statue of the Madonna delle Grazie and the beautiful sculptural group by Gagini depicting the Nativity.
Reaching the coast of Pollina you can spend a few hours on splendid beaches and quiet, including the Costa Turchina beach And that of Conca Tower.

How to reach the Pietra Rosa Pollina Theater

To reach Pollina and its Pietra Rosa Theater, take the A19 Palermo-Catania or the A20 Messina-Palermo and exit at Pollina/Castelbuono. Continue along the SS113 until you reach the crossroads for Pollina.

© Image by Charles Columba, CC BY-SA 2.5 IT, via Wikimedia Commons