Museo Del Teatro Romano (Roman Theater Museum of Cartagena), Cartagena

The Roman Theater Museum of Cartagena, designed by architect Rafael Moneo, opened its doors on July 11, 2008. This exceptional institution is dedicated to the excavation, restoration, and preservation of the Roman theater of Cartagena, unveiling an archaeological treasure that remained hidden for centuries. The discovery of this theater in 1988 sheds new light on the historical importance of Cartagena in ancient Hispania during the Roman Empire.

The Roman theater remained concealed for so long due to the constant human activity in the area. Over time, various structures were built on top of its ruins, including part of the Cartagena Cathedral. This ongoing development obscured the theater's existence and led to its absence in historical records.

Architect Rafael Moneo's project aimed not only to restore the Roman theater but also to seamlessly integrate it into the city's urban fabric. It encompassed the theater's maintenance, conservation, and educational exhibition, accompanied by the construction of an adjoining museum and research center.

While the Roman Theater Museum offers a comprehensive glimpse into this historical gem, it's essential to note that many artifacts from the theater's era are housed in the Municipal Archaeological Museum of Cartagena. The Roman Theater Museum's collection serves as a prelude to the main attraction, preparing visitors for their exploration of the Roman theater itself.

To access the museum, visitors enter the Riquelme Palace, situated in one of Cartagena's most iconic areas, close to the Cartagena Town Hall Palace. The museum spans two interconnected buildings, linked by an underground tunnel beneath the street. The Riquelme Palace houses the entrance hall, assembly room, cafeteria, museum shop, a temporary exhibition space, and a corridor detailing the theater's history. The second building hosts the museum's permanent collections and provides access to the awe-inspiring Roman theater.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Cartagena. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Sight Name: Museo Del Teatro Romano (Roman Theater Museum of Cartagena)
Sight Location: Cartagena, Spain (See walking tours in Cartagena)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Cartagena, Spain

Create Your Own Walk in Cartagena

Creating your own self-guided walk in Cartagena is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Cartagena Introduction Walking Tour

Situated in the southeastern corner of Spain, in the province of Murcia, the city of Cartagena is a major naval station on the Iberian Mediterranean coast. Being the first of a number of cities worldwide named Cartagena, it has one of the most fascinating histories in all of Spain, inhabited for over two millennia by several great civilizations and cultures.

The town was founded around 227 BC... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles

Roman Ruins Walking Tour

The picturesque Spanish coastal town of Cartagena is famously packed with historic monuments. The many layers of its ancient and maritime history date all the way back to its Carthaginian founding in 227 BC. While the harbor area is defended by forts, the town itself is walled and dotted with Roman ruins.

Among the prominent sites here is the Roman Theater Museum of Cartagena (Museo Del Teatro... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles

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