Eldest son and heir of a noble, ancient family, one of the twelve of Bertinoro’s famous Pillar of Hospitality, he is considered one of Italy’s greatest late 19th Century actors.
He made his stage debut at a very young age and soon because one of the country’s most famous actors. In 1900 he founded Italy’s first repertory company, the “Casa Goldoni”, at the Valle Theatre in Rome.
In 1902 he returned to Bertinoro and wrote “Foglietti sparsi narranti la mia vita” (“Scattered Leaves of my Life”), which was published posthumously. He built a large theatre, destroyed by bomb damage during the 2nd World War. Some of his memorabilia are conserved in the Town Hall.
A bust outside his home in Bertinoro reminds passers-by of this great man. The Premio Ermete Novelli, awarded every two years, was founded in 2002.
