Accademia Olimpica

The Accademia Olimpica is a cultural institution based in Vicenza, Italy, founded in 1555 and dedicated to the arts, cultural life and the progress of the city and its historic territory. It is best known as the body that commissioned and still maintains the Teatro Olimpico, the Renaissance theatre designed by Andrea Palladio, one of its founding members. The Academy also operates its own library and organises performances, conferences, summer schools and public research events. Membership is by election among existing members, with candidates required to have distinguished themselves in the service of peace and 'civiltà umana'. The Academy distinguishes between up to 130 Ordinari (who must be born in Vicenza and have lived in the Veneto for at least three years), up to 40 Corrispondenti, Fuori ruolo members over 80, and Onorari. Ex officio members include the Bishop and Mayor of Vicenza, the President of the Province of Vicenza, and the heads of the chambers of commerce, industry, crafts and agriculture. The Academy's seat is an annex to the Teatro Olimpico. Its governance includes general assemblies, a council with a president, and a college of auditors. Over the centuries it has counted prominent figures such as Antonio Fogazzaro, Mariano Rumor and Giacomo Zanella among its presidents. Today it continues to run educational programmes, research outreach such as the Notte della Ricerca, and cultural projects including the Laboratorio Olimpico and Summer School.

The Accademia Olimpica was founded in Vicenza in 1555 by a group of 21 individuals, promoted by the nobles Valerio Chiericati and Girolamo da Schio, though the majority of founders were of bourgeois origin. Among them were Anton Maria Angiolelli, Conte Da Monte, Giacomo Pagello, Giuseppe Ovetari, Elio Belli, the mathematician and engineer Silvio Belli, the architect Andrea Palladio, Bernardino Trinagio and Vincenzo Magrè. Shortly afterwards the painters Antonio Fasolo and Giovanni Battista Maganza joined. The Academy was intended to embrace all the arts, including sciences such as philosophy, mathematics, medicine and cosmography, with contributions read and discussed. Initially the institution had no fixed seat, but in 1580 Palladio was commissioned to build a meeting place. He chose the form of a Roman theatre. The construction was financed by the wealthy families of the city, who in return were dedicated statues to be prominently placed in the completed building. Palladio died in 1580 and could not finish the Teatro; his son Silla and the Vicentine architect Vincenzo Scamozzi completed it in 1585. In 1810 Napoleon threatened the institution with dissolution, but in 1813 the municipality decided to take over the building while granting its exclusive and permanent use to the Academy. With the Risorgimento and the inauguration in 1857 of the Osservatorio Meteorico (meteorological observatory) and the Scuola di disegno e plastica, as well as the active collaboration of Fedele Lampertico, Giacomo Zanella, Antonio Fogazzaro and Almerico da Schio, the institution gained a national reputation. In 1935 it was reconstituted as a juridical person. The observatory was destroyed by Allied bombing in 1944, as was the library of 20,000 volumes. The Teatro itself was largely spared, so a significant part of its documents survived; they are now kept by the Biblioteca civica Bertoliana. Since 1979 the Academy's library has been re-established and now holds more than 30,000 volumes. Membership is by election by existing members. Candidates must have distinguished themselves in the struggle for peace and 'civiltà umana'. Members are divided into up to 130 Ordinari, who must be born in Vicenza and have lived in the Veneto for at least three years; up to 40 Corrispondenti, who are not subject to these requirements; Fuori ruolo, all those over 80; and Onorari, all who fit none of these categories. Ex officio members include the Bishop and Mayor of Vicenza, the President of the Province of Vicenza, and the chairmen of the chambers of commerce, industry, crafts and agriculture. General assemblies, those of the Ordinari (including fuori ruolo and pro tempore), a council with a president, and a college of auditors form the organisational backbone. The presidency has been held by numerous notable figures since 1840, including Camillo Franco, Fedele Lampertico, Giacomo Zanella, Antonio Fogazzaro, Almerico da Schio, Mariano Rumor, and since 2023 Giovanni Luigi Fontana.

• 2023

  Giovanni Luigi Fontana becomes President.

• 1979

  Re-establishment of the Academy's library, now holding over 30,000 volumes.

• 1944

  Allied bombing destroys the observatory and the library of 20,000 volumes; the Teatro largely survives.

• 1935

  The Academy is reconstituted as a juridical person.

• 1857

  Inauguration of the Osservatorio Meteorico and the Scuola di disegno e plastica.

• 1813

  The municipality takes over the building but grants its exclusive and permanent use to the Academy.

• 1810

  Napoleon threatens the institution with dissolution.

• 1585

  Completion of the Teatro Olimpico by Palladio's son Silla and Vincenzo Scamozzi.

• 1580

  Andrea Palladio commissioned to build a meeting place; he chooses the form of a Roman theatre.

• 1555

  Founding of the Accademia Olimpica in Vicenza by 21 members.

Historic cultural academy and custodian of Palladio's Teatro Olimpico, promoting arts, sciences and civic progress in Vicenza.

• Teatro Olimpico

  Renaissance theatre designed by Andrea Palladio, completed in 1585, owned and maintained by the Academy.

• Library

  Academy library re-established in 1979, holding over 30,000 volumes.

• Summer School

  Training course for graduates under 33, focused on translation for the stage.

• Laboratorio Olimpico

  Project now in its XXI edition, organising conferences and cultural activities.

• Notte della Ricerca

  Research outreach event with divulgative totems in Vicenza.

1. 1Home - Accademia Olimpicaaccademiaolimpica.it
2. 2Accademia Olimpicawikidata.org
3. 3Accademia Olimpicade.wikipedia.org