The Luigi Mercantini Theatre in Ripatransone is one of the many historic theatres in the Marche region.
The building is located inside the 14th-century Palazzo del Podestà.
It features a colorful U-shaped auditorium with three tiers of boxes and no gallery.
The theatre can accommodate around 250 spectators.

As early as the 18th century, the people of Ripatransone felt the need to keep up with other important cities in the Marche region, all of which had a municipal theatre.
It was later decided to convert the Palazzo del Podestà into a theatre.
The project was entrusted to architect Pietro Maggi as early as 1790, and the theatre was inaugurated in 1824 under the name “Teatro del Leone,” even though construction was still underway.
The work, continued by architect Bassotti, was finally completed in 1843.
A later expansion increased the number of theatre boxes from the original 44 to 50.
In 1894, the theatre was named after the poet Luigi Mercantini, a native of Ripatransone, a friend of Garibaldi, and the author of famous patriotic poems.

In 1956, the authorities ordered the closure of the theatre, deeming it unsafe.
Extensive and meticulous restoration work began in 1980 and was completed in 2000.
The theatre’s historic curtain was a canvas painted in 1811 by Giuseppe Ruffini, an artist from Falerone. It depicts the sacrifice of the Ripatransone heroine Virginia, who chose to be pierced by her father’s sword rather than surrender to plundering Spanish soldiers.
The canvas is still preserved today.
The interior decorations of the theatre date back to 1875 and were created by Giovanni Micca.