The Pergola Theatre, built in 1656 by Ferdinando Tacca for the Florentine Accademia degli Immobili, constitutes one of the first and most important examples of theatre "all'Italiana" in which the traditional sixteenth-century U-shaped hall with tiers of seats is replaced by a mixed structure with three orders of partitioned boxes having independent entrances.

Originally utilised for court performances, the theatre was opened to the general public only in the early years of the 18th century. Over the centuries it has undergone numerous transformations, such as the addition of fourth and fifth orders of boxes, demolished in 1912, and the addition of a large concert hall, called the Saloncino. It was also equipped with a number of machines that, through a complex system of winches, were able to lift the stalls to the level of the stage.

Declared a national monument in 1925, the Pergola Theatre continues to present each year a rich program of theatrical and musical performances, ranging from the classic to the contemporary.