Roman Theater

The Roman Theatre of Verona, located at the foot of the San Pietro hill, represents one of the most important and well-preserved examples of Roman architecture in northern Italy. Built at the end of the 1st century BC during the Augustan period, the theatre was designed to take advantage of the natural slope of the hill, an architectural technique that ensured perfect visibility and acoustics for the spectators. The cavea, with a width of 105 meters, was originally divided into two horizontal sections separated by parapets and further segmented by staircases. This design allowed for an efficient distribution of the audience, who could access the seating areas through vomitoria, passages that led directly to the upper rows. The cavea culminated in two superimposed galleries, of which few visible remains exist today. The stage of the theatre, the central place for performances, was supported by a series of radial walls built with the opus caementicium technique, a kind of Roman concrete. Behind the theatre was a portico, while above the cavea and galleries, three large scenic terraces developed, each with distinctive architectural features, such as niches and semicolumns. The first terrace is partially obscured by the convent that now houses the Archaeological Museum. With the advent of Christianity and the decline of the Roman Empire, the theatre underwent a slow abandonment and was partially buried under mounds of earth and debris. In the Middle Ages, civil and religious buildings were constructed on the ruins of the theatre, hiding much of the original structure. It was only in the 19th century, thanks to the initiative of Andrea Monga, a wealthy Veronese merchant, that excavation work began to bring the theatre to light. Monga purchased several houses built over the ruins and started excavations, leading to the rediscovery of significant remains of the ancient theatre. Today, the Roman Theatre is an archaeological site of great importance and hosts cultural events and theatrical performances, especially during the Veronese Theatre Summer. This festival, mainly dedicated to Shakespearean theatre, takes advantage of the unique acoustics and atmosphere of the theatre to offer memorable shows. Adjacent to the theatre is the Archaeological Museum, housed in the former 15th-century convent of the Gesuati. The museum displays artifacts found during the excavations of the theatre and other sites in the city, offering a rich collection of mosaics, inscriptions, sculptures, and everyday objects from Roman times. The convent itself is a building of great historical interest, with its well-preserved cloisters and rooms adding further charm to the visit. A particularly evocative experience is the view of the Roman Theatre from Castel San Pietro, reachable by a funicular. From this panoramic point, visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of the city and the theatre below, fully appreciating the grandeur and ingenuity of Roman construction.