Teatro Romano di Trieste (Roman Theatre of Trieste), Trieste
At the foot of San Giusto Hill is the long-buried, now-exposed Roman Theatre of old Trieste. It is an amphitheater cut into the hillside in an ancient Greek fashion. It dates from the first and second century AD. It could hold up to 6,000 theatre-goers. Its construction was nearly all masonry except for the wooden stage.
In 1814, archeologist Pietro Nobile intuited the presence of a theatre from the name of a village. The name was Old Arena (Rena Vecia). The amphitheater was brought to light only in 1938 following major urban reconstructions. The ornamental plaques and statues discovered in the theatre are now in the Civic Museum of History and Art (Orto Lapidario).
In its heyday, in the 1st century, the theatre was outside the city walls, at the water's edge. The theatre was enlarged during the reign of Trajan in the 2nd century by Quinto Petronio Modesto, the imperial procurator. The seating area on the slope of the hill is divided into four sections by sets of steps, levels, and corridors.
Attilio Tamaro, historian and journalist, also intuited the reality of the Roman Theatre. In his History of Trieste (Storia di Trieste), he wrote: "A real monument will emerge one day in the Trieste sky." He claimed entire floors were entombed under the houses of the Old Arena neighborhood. Like Pietro Nobile, he was right.
In 1814, archeologist Pietro Nobile intuited the presence of a theatre from the name of a village. The name was Old Arena (Rena Vecia). The amphitheater was brought to light only in 1938 following major urban reconstructions. The ornamental plaques and statues discovered in the theatre are now in the Civic Museum of History and Art (Orto Lapidario).
In its heyday, in the 1st century, the theatre was outside the city walls, at the water's edge. The theatre was enlarged during the reign of Trajan in the 2nd century by Quinto Petronio Modesto, the imperial procurator. The seating area on the slope of the hill is divided into four sections by sets of steps, levels, and corridors.
Attilio Tamaro, historian and journalist, also intuited the reality of the Roman Theatre. In his History of Trieste (Storia di Trieste), he wrote: "A real monument will emerge one day in the Trieste sky." He claimed entire floors were entombed under the houses of the Old Arena neighborhood. Like Pietro Nobile, he was right.
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Teatro Romano di Trieste (Roman Theatre of Trieste) on Map
Sight Name: Teatro Romano di Trieste (Roman Theatre of Trieste)
Sight Location: Trieste, Italy (See walking tours in Trieste)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Trieste, Italy (See walking tours in Trieste)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Trieste, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Trieste
Creating your own self-guided walk in Trieste 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.
Trieste Introduction Walking Tour
Sub-tropical Trieste lies on a bit of land between the Adriatic Sea and Slovenia. Savannas, forests, and karstic areas of sinkholes and caves surround the coastline. It is a deep-water port and a major gateway to northern Italy. It is called "Vienna by the Sea" by some or "City of Coffee" by others.
The ancient Veneti tribes called the town "Tergeste," which means... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
The ancient Veneti tribes called the town "Tergeste," which means... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Trieste's Ancient Roman Sites Walking Tour
The Roman remains on Trieste extend along the northwestern slope of San Giusto Hill, overlooking the Gulf of Trieste. Wharves of sandstone slabs dating from the 1st century AD were found by the Roman Theatre. The city walls, ordered by Augustus, were converted to use as terraces.
The Propylaeum of the 1st century AD was the gateway to the sacred area of the Capitoline Temple. There are two... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
The Propylaeum of the 1st century AD was the gateway to the sacred area of the Capitoline Temple. There are two... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles