Teatro Olimpico (Vicenza, Italy)

維琴察（Vicenza）除了是世界黃金飾品重鎮以外，也因為十六世紀兩位著名的建築師帕拉底歐（Andrea Palladio）與其弟子斯卡莫齊（Vincenzo Scamozzi）聞名於世。帕拉底歐在維琴察省思所留下的許多經典建築，是許多建築人朝聖之地，而被聯合國科教文組織列為世界遺產的奧林匹克劇院，是大師的最後遺作。
Vicenza is not only famous for its gold fairs. Its fame also comes from two world renowned architects, Andrea Palladio and his pupil Vicenza Scamozzi, in the 16th century. Palladio left behind many classic villas in Vicenza province, and the area thus becomes a pilgrimage place for architects. The Olympic Theater, which is listed in the World Heritage List, is the last work of Palladio.

在所有早期興建的劇院中，維琴察的奧林匹克劇院是至今尚存的古蹟之一。西元1555年，維琴察市奧林匹克藝術學院（Accademia Olimpica）成立。學院在成立初期的宗旨，主要是研究希臘悲劇，而為了要上演戲劇作品，便延請當時已經相當知名的帕拉底歐替學院設計一座劇場。然而，劇場開始施工的第一年（西元1580），帕拉底歐便去世，因而由弟子斯卡莫齊接手，因此奧林匹克劇院其實是兩位大師的心血結晶。
The Olympic Theater in Vicenza is one of the early theaters that remains intact until now. In 1555, Accademia Olimpica in Vicenza was established, with a mission to study classical Greek dramas. To put the works on stage, the Accademia invited Palladio to design a theater for it. However, Palladio passed away in 1580, the very first year when the construction began. His pupil Scamozzi took over and completed the project. The Olympic Theater is actually a work from both masters.

日間的奧林匹克劇院是維琴察市的觀光勝地。穿過一座地上鋪滿碎石且擺滿石雕像的小花園，訪客進入了一座古意盎然的建築，漫步走過廊道，欣賞壁上畫作，偶爾，還會看到破碎的壁畫，闡述著維琴察在大戰中慘遭轟炸的遭遇。隨著參觀方向，穿過了一個狹小的通道，眼前豁然開朗，美輪美奐的劇場映入眼簾，長方形的舞台配上木製的階梯型觀眾席，周圍高牆聳立，飾有各式古典石膏像，讓訪者的思緒聯想到羅馬時期。天花板被化作美麗的天空，顏色像極了威尼斯的落日餘暉，混合著藍橘紅等粉嫩的浪漫，讓我想起某次拜訪威尼斯的領悟，體驗到藝術家們以畫筆紀錄下的真實。舞台上又是另一番景色，五條按照透視法設計製作的街道，是斯卡莫齊眼中的古希臘城市底比斯，利用視覺效果在短且小的空間中創造出深度的錯覺，觀眾席上每一區的感受各異，古希臘與古羅馬的時空交錯，讓人頓時沉浸於大師創作之中。這些木製的舞台背景又為何能夠經歷戰火的蹂躪而被保存下來？據說在二次大戰開始之初，有心人士害怕這些珍貴的文物受到戰火波及，暗地裡逕自把台上的佈景搬到鄉下藏了起來，直到大戰結束以後才把它們交還，也因此讓這些作品能夠流傳至今。
In the day time, the Olympic Theater is one of the tourist attractions in Vicenza. Going through a small statue garden with pebbles on its passage, visitors enter an old building. On the corridor hang paintings of nobles from various painters. Signs of wars can be spotted on the frescos. Following the direction through a narrow walkway, a splendid theater opens up the eyes of the visitors. The stage, wooden seating, the setting and various plaster statues bring its visitors back to the Roman age. The ceiling is turned into beautiful sky, with colors of Venice sunset. A mixture of light pink, golden orage and sky blue bring such a romantic touch. It reminds me the very first time I visited Venice. The painters recorded what they saw with their own eyes. On the stage, there are five passages designed according to perspectives, showing Scamozzi's interpretation of ancient Greek town Thebes, creating depth with visual effects in such a small space. How can these wooden works survive the war? Iwas told that during the war, the manager of the theater was afraid that these presious works would be damaged, and took the initiative to hide the whole set in the country side. It was returned only after the war came to its end. Thanks to his good will, we can still see these masterpiece with our own eyes.