Teatro Tito Marrone
A modern auditorium defined by its sweeping concrete roof.
The Teatro Tito Marrone is a modern theatre in Casa Santa, Erice, designed by Alfonso Augello as part of the University of Palermo's Trapani campus.
Key facts
Site type:
Comune:
Theatre, Auditorium
Erice
District:
Casa Santa
The Teatro Tito Marrone forms part of the Polo Territoriale Universitario di Trapani, the University of Palermo's territorial campus at Casa Santa in the municipality of Erice. Designed by engineer Alfonso Augello as an integral part of the university complex, the auditorium was conceived for theatrical performances, music, conferences and academic events.
Its defining architectural feature is the shell-like auditorium roof, formed by a sequence of exposed reinforced-concrete arches that span the seating area without internal columns. Rising towards the rear before sweeping down towards the stage, the repeated structural ribs remain visible inside the auditorium and give the building its distinctive external profile. The original design also incorporated substantial theatrical facilities, including a large stage, orchestra pit and backstage areas.
The auditorium was later named after the Trapanese poet, dramatist and critic Tito Marrone (1882–1967). Closed in 2015 after years of cultural and academic use, it subsequently suffered deterioration and vandalism. A major restoration programme began in 2022 and was completed in July 2026 at a cost of more than €3.3 million. Structural repairs and work to the roof were accompanied by new seating and renewed stage and technical systems. The restored auditorium has 716 seats, with capacity extendable to 900.
Photo: Antonije Levičanin
Explore further
Explore the origins of the university complex, Alfonso Augello's architectural conception of the auditorium and the restoration of one of its principal cultural spaces.
The development of university education
The university complex at Casa Santa grew from efforts during the 1970s to establish permanent higher education facilities for the province of Trapani. In 1974 the Consorzio per il Libero Istituto di Studi Universitari della provincia di Trapani was established on the initiative of the Rotary Club of Trapani, with Giuseppe Garraffa among the leading figures behind the project.
University teaching initially took place in different premises. The Consorzio subsequently promoted the construction of a purpose-built complex capable of bringing teaching and other academic activities together on a permanent site. In 1991 the organisation became the Consorzio Universitario della Provincia di Trapani. The complex is now home to the Polo Territoriale Universitario di Trapani, a territorial campus of the University of Palermo.
Creating the university complex
Engineer Alfonso Augello was closely involved in the development of the new university complex, serving as both its designer and works director. He was also a member of the governing board of the university consortium. His scheme combined teaching facilities with a substantial auditorium, allowing cultural and public events to form part of the activities of the new academic centre.
An earlier version of the project had been developed for the area of the former Caserma Garibaldi in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele in Trapani. When that site could not be secured, the scheme was transferred to state-owned land at Casa Santa, within the municipality of Erice, and adapted to the new location. Augello's account records the development of the project during the 1980s, with the scheme for the new site taking shape in 1986.
Designing the auditorium
Augello conceived the auditorium as a multipurpose performance and conference venue rather than simply a university lecture theatre. Its most striking element is its roof structure: repeated reinforced-concrete arches span the auditorium without internal columns, leaving uninterrupted views towards the stage and creating the characteristic shell-like form of the building.
The seating floor descends towards the stage to improve sightlines, while the original design provided an orchestra pit capable of accommodating around 90 musicians. A substantial stage and extensive backstage facilities, including dressing rooms, allowed the auditorium to accommodate theatre and concerts as well as conferences and university events.
Closure and restoration
The Teatro Tito Marrone closed in 2015. During the following years the unused building suffered deterioration, vandalism and damage to its fittings and technical installations.
Restoration began in May 2022 under a programme promoted by the Regione Siciliana. The project addressed structural deterioration and the auditorium roof as well as replacing seating and renewing the stage, electrical, climate-control, fire-safety and security systems. Additional works were required as previously unidentified structural and technical problems emerged.
The Regione Siciliana announced the completion of the project in July 2026. The investment ultimately exceeded €3.3 million, restoring the auditorium's 716 seats and providing the possibility of increasing capacity to 900 for particular configurations.
Sources & further reading
Explore the architectural, institutional and official sources used to document the design of the Teatro Tito Marrone, the development of the university complex and the theatre's recent restoration.