The nominated property includes, in addition to the Teatro Gentile da Fabriano, the urban blocks adjacent to the theatre building and those looking onto Piazza del Comune, the heart of the city. The theatre is set within a long, rectangular block behind Palazzo Chiavelli, currently the main seat of Fabriano’s municipal council. The entrance to the theatre is in the courtyard of the building via two points of access, one along Via Gentile da Fabriano and the other along Via Giuseppe Verdi.
Fontana Sturinalto, the fountain in the centre of Piazza del Comune, has an octagonal base and three sloping basins. The upper basin is made of Corinthian bronze. In addition to Palazzo Chiavelli, two other buildings overlook the square. The first of these, Palazzo del Podestà, is considered one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in the Marche region, and currently houses the financial offices of the municipal council. It features a vaulted archway at street level. The second building overlooking the square is Palazzo Vescovile, which is flanked by the clock tower. This edifice presents a 17th-century façade fronted by a seven-bay walkway and two rows of windows above the bays. Another backdrop to the square is the Loggiato San Francesco, a loggia running alongside the church of San Francesco, whose arches accentuate the perspective of the piazza.
The Teatro Gentile da Fabriano has a very large and well-equipped stage that makes it suitable for a wide variety of theatrical performances. The historic elements preserved in the theatre include some important stage machinery. The grid is equipped so that scenery can be raised and lowered. A historic thunder machine and a lightning machine are preserved at the theatre. Another important feature of the Teatro Gentile da Fabriano is that it still has its original private rooms attached to boxes, some of which retain their original fixtures.
One particularly noteworthy detail is the presence of the act drop from the old theatre, the Teatro Camurio. This act drop was painted in 1851 by the Ancona scenographer Cesare Recanatini and represents Piazza del Magistrato in Fabriano with its 14th-century fountain, arcade and surrounding buildings. The historic house curtain and act drop of the current Teatro Gentile da Fabriano were made by Luigi Serra between 1872 and 1875. The house curtain depicts the Allegory of the Arts and represents the apotheosis of Gentile da Fabriano.
The theatre is managed by the municipality of Fabriano in partnership with AMAT – Associazione Marchigiana Attività Teatrali. The theatre offers a varied programme that includes a season of theatre, symphony music, and performances staged by local dance and drama schools. Every year it serves as a performance venue for around 17 amateur companies, schools and associations in the local area. In 1997, the Compagnia del Gentile was recognised by the Office of the President of the Council of Ministers, giving many young theatre lovers in and around Fabriano the opportunity to try their hand at the theatre arts and management. The Teatro Gentile da Fabriano is open to the public for tours by appointment.
