Luoghi e architetture del cinema in Italia. Cinema Houses. Place and architectures in Italy

The volume contains the first repertory of Italian cinemas built within the XX century: from the Corso Cinema designed by Marcello Piacentini, till the Futurism masterpieces, "cinema cities" and the postwar cinemas. Architectures that materialize technical, spatial and visual requirements, controlled in every single detail, from furnishings to coordinated design, lighting and art. Such a heritage, that marks the historic urban places, the metropolitan suburbs, the rural areas, is today threatened by abandonments, deep alterations and even demolitions. The volume does not only intend to denounce the need to safeguard the movie theaters that are still preserved nowadays but also to arouse new considerations on restoration and new compatible uses. Many of those one hundred and thirtytwo cinemas, registered in a catalog for the first time, may still be an important resource for the culture and the contemporary city.