Studio Theatre Valeria Moriconi
Venues that have been showcasing Jesi’s passion for music and the performing arts for centuries:
from the prestigious Teatro Pergolesi to Valeria Moriconi’s innovative venues.
The San Floriano complex comprises the former church of San Floriano and the Franciscan monastery.
The former church is the most historically and religiously significant in the town; the public ceremonies which had most importance were held here, one of which on 4th May, was the presentation of the Pallio by the Castelli di Jesi as a sign of submission to the town; the splendid works by Lorenzo Lotto, such as the Deposition (1512), the Annunciation (1527) and the St. Lucy Altarpiece (1532), now housed in the Art Gallery in Palazzo Pianetti, were housed here. Over time, the church has undergone various transformations.
Its current appearance is the result of renovations begun in the 18th century.
The frescoes in the dome depicting the Stories of St Francis are the work of Jesi painter Luigi Mancini (1855).
Deconsecrated in 1860, the church is now home to the Teatro Studio Valeria Moriconi, the town’s second theatre, and named after the great Jesi actress Valeria Moriconi (1931-2005) after her death.
Inaugurated in 2002, it is the result of a project by the architect Italo Rota, who created a sort of permanent theatre set within the late baroque structure with a markedly contemporary style, capable of interacting with the architectural and decorative elements of the period, therefore creating a highly evocative environment.
The auditorium has 160 seats.
On the ground floor, next to the former church, is the Valeria Moriconi Archive Fund: donated by her cousins Luciana and Adriana Olivieri, it was established by the Municipality of Jesi in 2006.
The Archive Fund contains a selection of scripts, manuscripts, correspondence, articles, theatre programmes, video materials, publications, paintings, posters, playbills, sketches, photos, portraits, costumes, stage elements and a rich collection of books.
A precious testimony to the career and personality of the actress, who was one of the most significant artists of the 20th century Italian theatre scene.
