Teatro Romano di Trieste (Roman Theatre of Trieste), Trieste
Down at the base of Saint Giusto Hill, Trieste keeps shows that the Romans knew how to put on a show. The theatre, first raised in the 1st century AD and bulked up under Emperor Trajan in the 2nd, could pack in thousands鈥攁nywhere from 3,500 to 6,000 spectators. They leaned into the hillside for tiered seating, with the stage facing the sea, giving audiences drama on stage and scenery behind it. Plays, political speeches, and civic gatherings all unfolded here, making the spot a hub of Roman public life.
Eventually, though, the theatre slipped out of use and into obscurity, smothered under later buildings. By the 19th century, sharp-eyed scholars like Pietro Nobile and Attilio Tamaro were already convinced it was hiding beneath the Old Arena district. They were right鈥攚hen the city reshaped itself in 1938, the theatre finally came back into daylight. Excavations exposed its stone seating, the orchestra pit, and the stage foundations, with statues and inscriptions carted off to the Civic Museum of History and Art.
Today, the theatre is wide open to wander. From the street, its semicircle of stone benches climbs the slope in quiet rhythm, still echoing with the memory of Roman voices. Lit up at night, it doubles as an open-air relic glowing between the bustle of the Unity of Italy Square and the climb toward Saint Giusto Hill. Despite all of Trieste's attractions, this one still gathers crowds regularly. Be a part of the spectacle, no ticket needed.
Eventually, though, the theatre slipped out of use and into obscurity, smothered under later buildings. By the 19th century, sharp-eyed scholars like Pietro Nobile and Attilio Tamaro were already convinced it was hiding beneath the Old Arena district. They were right鈥攚hen the city reshaped itself in 1938, the theatre finally came back into daylight. Excavations exposed its stone seating, the orchestra pit, and the stage foundations, with statues and inscriptions carted off to the Civic Museum of History and Art.
Today, the theatre is wide open to wander. From the street, its semicircle of stone benches climbs the slope in quiet rhythm, still echoing with the memory of Roman voices. Lit up at night, it doubles as an open-air relic glowing between the bustle of the Unity of Italy Square and the climb toward Saint Giusto Hill. Despite all of Trieste's attractions, this one still gathers crowds regularly. Be a part of the spectacle, no ticket needed.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Trieste. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: 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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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
Let鈥檚 drop into Trieste, a city that鈥檚 always had one foot in Central Europe and the other dipping into the Adriatic. It sits at Italy鈥檚 northeastern edge, pressed against Slovenia, where winds tear across the Karst Plateau and caves open like gateways underground. Some call it 鈥淰ienna by the Sea,鈥� others swear it鈥檚 the 鈥淐ity of Coffee,鈥� but labels never really fit. From the start,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
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