Set in Palazzo Capranica, the antique Capranica theater is one of the few 15th century buildings which has survived time and demolition.
Its construction was ordered, and done in phases, by Cardinal Domenico Capranica whose intentions were to have a residence made for his own family and a college for the education of ecclesiastics.
Facing the piazza of the same name, Palazzo Capranica is of a courtly Roman pre-renaissance characteristic, with crossed Guelfic and gothic lancet windows, bored on the summit of the antique coat of arms of Cardinal Capranica. In 1694, during a project planned by Carlo Buratti, an open air theater in a "U" shaped plan with 6 rows of seats and a stage was excavated from the private theatrical hall.