Photo report about life at Teatro Valle Ocupato in the center of Rome.
The unrest in Rome began in 2011, when budget cuts forced the city to close cultural programs and put historic buildings up for sale, leaving many citizens without affordable housing and places to enjoy cultural activities. Speculators quickly took advantage of the situation, buying up real estate in historic areas at bargain prices.
The Teatro Valle, a major public theater and former opera house in the area, suffered the same sad fate. In June 2011, a group of theater workers occupied the theater, saving it from destruction. They put the 18th-century building in order on their own, and organized plays, concerts, and other events.
