Ministry of Culture buys former Cinema Astra in Verona: under the historic cinema a "little Roman Pompeii"

The Ministry of Culture is purchasing the former Cinema Astra in Verona, marking a decisive step in the recovery and enhancement of one of the city’s most significant cultural spaces. Yesterday afternoon, Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, accompanied by Undersecretary Gianmarco Mazzi, visited the premises of the former Cinema and the archaeological remains that emerged during recent excavations conducted by the local Superintendency, also taking part in the signing of the deed of purchase of the property. Also present at the signing, which took place at the Buoninconti Notary Studio in Verona, were Department Head for the Protection of Cultural Heritage Luigi La Rocca and Director General of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape Fabrizio Magani. For the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio of the provinces of Verona, Rovigo and Vicenza, superintendent Andrea Rosignoli and Brunella Bruno participated. The operation is part of the initiatives promoted by the Ministry for the protection and enhancement of historic places in the area, with the aim of returning them to public use and strengthening the cultural offerings intended for local communities.

Opened in 1937, Cinema Astra has long been one of Verona’s main movie theaters. In 2004, during an expansion project involving the construction of an underground multiplex, archaeological investigations were initiated that led to the discovery of a large complex from the imperial age located under the raised stalls. The unearthed structures, which extended over the entire surface of the building, show preserved masonry more than a meter high, decorated with parietal plasterwork and equipped with heating systems. Archaeological investigations of the area were completed in 2023, while the study and analysis of the materials that emerged from the excavations are still ongoing.

The site of the former Astra Cinema represents a case of particular complexity from an archaeological point of view, as the original function of the building is still unclear. Indeed, the architectural features correspond neither to those typical of a Roman domus nor to those of a thermal building. Among the most plausible hypotheses is that it was a structure intended for reception or hospitality.

The redevelopment project involves the transformation of the former cinema into a modern museum center, which will integrate the protection of the archaeological site with the use of new exhibition technologies. The intervention will maintain the original architecture of the structure and will offer visitors a unified itinerary, in which the historical memory of the cinema will become the setting for the enhancement of archaeological evidence.

“Verona is reclaiming a historic cinema, beneath which is a Roman building complex from the imperial age, a small Pompeii, which will not remain inert and mute, but will become a place of sociability and a venue for the telling of Verona’s history,” said Minister Giuli. “The city will thus regain the opportunity to share the viewing of films in a context of absolute architectural prominence and at the same time, to admire the wonderful remains of the Roman city at the gates of the modern one. A beautiful treasure chest of history, full of extraordinary decorations, where culture and research will come to life together.”

“The Ministry of Culture will invest 7.5 million euros for the regeneration of the Astra Cinema, as part of a project we have called ”Per Aspera ad Astra.“ For those who, like me, are from Verona and grew up attending what was once the city’s most important cinema, it was painful to see it in that state for years. When I was given this opportunity-and I thank the minister for this-I welcomed the opportunity to contribute to this operation with great enthusiasm. I would like to thank the D’Ignazio family, Luca and Paolo, to whom goes my personal gratitude for choosing to donate this cinema to the community, accepting the Ministry’s request,” Undersecretary Mazzi added.

Ministry of Culture buys former Cinema Astra in Verona: under the historic cinema a "little Roman Pompeii"

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