Teatro Comunale Bologna (IT) visit 2th of August 2014

The theatre, Designed by  famous architect and stage designer Antonio Galli Bibiena opened on 14 may 1763 

Over the next centuries bigger and smaller changes were executed concerning the camerini, i.e. small rooms behind the boxes, the walls of the stalls area, the portal, the painted ceiling (the current one dates from 1870) and the stage.

The facade was completed only in 1935-36 and the stage technology is of a much later date (90's)

But the real hidden treasure is below the floor of the auditorium.
There is a wooden machinery from 1820 that can lift the whole floor to the level of the stage.

Thanks to several leavers, the whole floor can be tilted so that the auditorium floor comes at the same lavel of the stagefloor, creating a big flat area that can be used for balls, parties, etc.

It(s not uncommon the auditorium floor can be leveled out to stage level, but to my knowledge, this can never be dome mechanicaly.
With just a few people and the matter of minutes the whole floor can be raised.

Nobody knows for sure when the machery was put in, but it's already mentioned in an inventory made in 1800.

Unfortunaly, this extra ordinary machine is not open for visit to the general public.
A technical study is made by Giuseppe Amoruso, titled: "Una macchina di legno nel Teatro Comunale di Bologna"