The oldest surviving stage set still in existence

The Teatro Olimpico, or Olympic Theatre, in Vicenza, Italy, was the final design by the Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio and was not completed until after his death. The trompe-l'œil onstage scenery, designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi to give the appearance of long streets receding to a distant horizon, was installed in 1585 for the first performance held in the theatre, and is the oldest surviving stage set still in existence. The full Roman-style scaenae frons back screen across the stage is made from wood and stucco imitating marble. The theatre was the home of the Accademia Olimpica, which was founded there in 1555. Since 1994 the Teatro Olimpico, together with other Palladian buildings in and around Vicenza, has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto".

The scenery consists of seven hallways decorated to create the illusion of looking down the streets of a city from classical antiquity. These extraordinarily realistic trompe-l'œil false perspectives provide the illusion of long street views, while the actual sets recede only a few meters. Scamozzi also put considerable effort into designing the lighting that permitted the make-believe houses of the stage scenery to be lit from within, completing the illusion that these were real streets.

Palladio died in August 1580, only six months after construction had started on the theatre. Construction continued with his sketches and drawings serving as a guide, and his son, Silla, took charge of the project. Soon, Vincenzo Scamozzi was called upon to complete it. The resulting work allowed seats in all parts of the theatre to provide at least one perspective view, a feat that drew admiration from visitors like the English architect Inigo Jones.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons