Cinema Odeon

Cinema Odeon is a historic movie theater located in the center of Vicenza, Italy, a few meters from the Teatro Olimpico. It began operations on 18 May 1907 as the "Cinematografo San Faustino," taking its name from the deconsecrated church of Santi Faustino e Giovita in which it is housed. The church itself is an ancient structure, documented before the year 1000, and was redesigned in Baroque forms in the 18th century by architect Ottavio Bertotti Scamozzi; its architectural structure and decorations remain substantially intact, including a fresco by Costantino Pasqualotto (1730). The building is owned by the Comune di Vicenza. The cinema is cited as the longest-running cinema in Italy for continuous programming activity, having never interrupted film screenings since 1907—not even during the two World Wars—except for summer closures and renovation periods. Over more than 119 years of operation, it has screened over 17,000 films across more than 25,000 days of opening. In 1970, attendance reached 176,153. The venue has continually adapted to the evolution of cinema, from its establishment as the city's first permanent cinema to the crises of the 1920s, the advent of sound, color, and widescreen formats. Today, Cinema Odeon remains active, offering a programming mix of first-run films (prime visioni), cineforum events, and special screenings. Its official website provides schedules and film details. The cinema is a cultural landmark in Vicenza, known for its historical significance and continuous operation.

Cinema Odeon began its activity on 18 May 1907 as the "Cinematografo San Faustino," named after the deconsecrated church of Santi Faustino e Giovita in which it is housed. The church, documented before the year 1000, had been redesigned in Baroque forms in the 18th century by architect Ottavio Bertotti Scamozzi, and its architectural structure and decorations remain substantially intact, including a fresco by Costantino Pasqualotto (1730). The building is owned by the Comune di Vicenza, and the space had served as the social seat of the Società Generale di Mutuo Soccorso di Vicenza since 1858. The cinema's establishment as a permanent cinema marked it as the first permanent cinema in the city. It weathered the deep crisis of national film production and exhibition in the 1920s, and subsequently adapted to the advent of sound, color, and widescreen projection formats. Throughout its history, it has never interrupted film screenings—not even during the two World Wars—except for summer closures and renovation periods. Over more than 119 years of operation, it has screened over 17,000 films across more than 25,000 days of opening. In 1970, attendance reached 176,153. The cinema is cited as the longest-running cinema in Italy for continuous programming activity. A book on its first hundred years, "La Chiesa-Cinematografo: San Faustino. I cento anni del Cinema Odeon a Vicenza" by Francesca Livraghi and Enrico Ladisa, was published in Cittadella in 2007. Today, Cinema Odeon remains active, offering a mix of first-run films, cineforum events, and special screenings, and maintains an official website with schedules and film details.

• 2007

  Book on the first hundred years published in Cittadella.

• 1970

  Attendance reaches 176,153.

• 1907

  Opens on 18 May as Cinematografo San Faustino, the first permanent cinema in Vicenza.

• 1858

  Space becomes social seat of the Società Generale di Mutuo Soccorso di Vicenza.

• 1730

  Fresco by Costantino Pasqualotto created in the church.

• Church of Santi Faustino e Giovita documented before this year.

Historic and longest-running cinema in Italy, offering a mix of first-run and cultural film programming in a landmark venue.

• First-run film screenings

• Cineforum events

• Special screenings

1. 1Cinema Odeon - Vicenzaodeonline.it
2. 2Chi siamo - Cinema Odeonodeonline.it
3. 3Cinema Odeonwikidata.org
4. 4Cinema Odeon (Vicenza)it.wikipedia.org