Roman Theatre

1609

The theatre is just a stone's throw from the Italica Archaeological Site and was built during the time of Augustus and restored in 2014. It was built in three stages between 30 and 37 A.D. Later, during the 60's and 80's A.D., major renovations were made to the semicircular façade and the stage. In the late 1st and early 2nd century, the post scaenam porticus was converted into an enclosed courtyard and a few years later a temple dedicated to the goddess Isis was built there. Over time this portico became a public forum. Destroyed during the barbarian invasions, the theatre was used as a cemetery during the Middle Ages and later for livestock and industrial purposes. In the 18th century, with the transfer of the town of Santiponce to the hills where the old Italica was located, the Theatre became hidden under the farmhouse, until it was rediscovered very recently.

In 1937, Francisco Collantes de Terán y Delorme recorded the existence of remains of the theatre under a number of buildings. In 1970 a preliminary excavation was made, but it was not until 1979 when systematic recovery work began.

The Roman Theatre of Italica has the form of a typical urban Roman theatre, close to an area of public buildings and facing east. The cavea is semicircular in shape and is closed by the façade, which had five doors, the central one giving on to a portico. The steps of the moenia were located in the orchestra. The frons pulpiti has exedras to house fountains. The scaena frons had two bodies with rectangular niches and doors.

Opening times

1 January to 31 March:
Tuesday to Saturday: 09:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sundays and public holidays: 09:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Monday: Closed.
1 April to 15 June:
Tuesday to Saturday: 09:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Sundays and public holidays: 09:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Monday: Closed.
16 June to 15 September:
Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays: 09:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Mondays: Closed.
16 September to 31 December:
Tuesday to Saturday: 09:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Sundays and public holidays: 09:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Monday: Closed.