Teatro Romano di Trieste

The construction of the theatre took place towards the end of the 1st century AD, largely sponsored by the Triestine patrician Quintus Petronius Modestus. He was a figure who supported Emperor Titus in the Jewish War and later served as procurator and flamen for Emperor Trajan. Originally, the stage was used not only for gladiatorial contests but also as a maritime stage for theatrical performances. The destruction of the structure is possibly attributed to the Lombards, who invaded and besieged Trieste in 568. The remains of the theatre lay hidden beneath medieval city walls and adjacent buildings. It was only in 1938 that the ruins were rediscovered during urban development. A residential quarter was demolished to uncover the ancient site.

The Teatro Romano di Trieste is located on Via del Teatro Romano, at the foot of Colle di San Giusto, the historic city center of Trieste. The city is situated in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, approximately 12 meters above sea level.

The remains of the Roman theatre can be explored. The semi-circular auditorium with its stone seating rows, which once accommodated 6,000 people, is largely intact. The upper colonnade of the auditorium is also still visible. Only fragments of the stage wall have survived.