The news of the sale of the Teatro delle Vittorie shook the world of Italian entertainment, but what transformed it into a national case was the sudden gesture of Rosario Fiorello, who chose the path of public protest. In front of the entrance to the historic building in Via Col di Lana, in Rome, the showman presented himself together with Fabrizio Biggio, starting from there the live broadcast of his program Pennicance on Rai Radio 2 and posting clear and direct signs: “This theater is not for sale“. A simple action but full of meaning, accompanied by a video published on social media that sparked the debate in a few hours. The Teatro delle Vittorie is not just a building: it is a symbol of Italian television, a place that has hosted some of Rai’s most iconic programmes.
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Fiorello’s words
In the video, Fiorello does not mince his words and entrusts to his words an appeal that sounds like a defense of collective memory given that on that stage some legendary figures have built fundamental pages of Italian TV:
It is a crime against the history of Italian entertainment. This theater shouldn’t be sold, you shouldn’t even think about selling it, for what was experienced in there, for the great variety show, the great ‘Fantastico’ by Pippo Baudo, and then Raffaella Carrà, Mina… All the greats of entertainment have been in here.
A theater that recounts decades of entertainment
Built in 1950 and renovated in the 1980s, the Teatro delle Vittorie is spread over six floors above ground and one underground, covering over 5,500 square metres. Programs such as have been staged here Risk it all, Milleluci and, more recently, Your business. It was also the place of symbolic moments, such as the chapel of rest dedicated to Pippo Baudo in 2025. It is therefore not surprising that its possible sale is perceived as a fracture between past and future, between memory and corporate logic.
Rai’s position: unsustainable costs
On the other hand, Rai defends the choice with technical and economic reasons. The company highlights how the structure presents important critical issues: obsolete systems, structural problems, constraints linked to the location in a condominium and millionaire maintenance costs. According to Rai, the sale is part of a broader rationalization and modernization plan, with investments in technologically advanced centers such as Saxa Rubra and other Roman locations.
Between emotion and future: a dividing decision
A story which therefore highlights an increasingly evident conflict: on the one hand the protection of cultural history, on the other the need to adapt to new production logics. Fiorello, also driven by Renzo Arbore’s appeal, transformed an administrative decision into a public issue. And while the discussion continues, the Theater of Victories remains there, silent but full of memories. Waiting to understand if its curtain will really close or if someone will be able to reopen it.
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