Brescia Roman Theatre

Brescia, Italy

The Roman amphitheatre in Brescia is located immediately at east of the Capitolium. It has been built in the Flavian era and altered in the 3rd century. With its 86 meters diameter, is one of the largest Roman theatres in northern Italy and originally it housed around 15,000 spectators.

In the 5th century, an earthquake has heavily damaged the building. In addition, in later centuries, its remains were incorporated into new buildings built on top of it, largely demolished starting from the 19th century. Of the original structure are preserved the semicircular perimeter walls, the two side passages (aditus) and the remains of the proscenium, as well as many fragments of columns and friezes of the scaenae frons. The most of the orchestra and the ima cavea are still below ground. The archaeological excavations should resume in the coming years.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Vicolo Fontanone 10, Brescia, Italy

See all sites in Brescia

Details

Founded: 69-96 AD
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Italy

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.turismobrescia.it

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Santa Maria Maggiore Church (30,1 km)
Sirmione Castle (30,2 km)
Loggia dei Militi (47,9 km)
Cremona Baptistery (47,9 km)
Cremona Cathedral (47,8 km)
Peschiera Fortress (37,9 km)
Grotte di Catullo (29,9 km)
Torri del Benaco Castle (36,5 km)
San Pietro in Mavino (29,8 km)

User Reviews

Kay Ess (14 months ago)
Really nice place to sit down and soak in the atmosphere. Shaded by the temple and museum. Good signage.

Paul Heller (2 years ago)
The theater is not in the best shape, you need a little imagination, but its free to walk around and explore the history. Reader board explains a little about it. Dogs welcome. All outside.

massimiliano ortodossi (2 years ago)
The theatre is a magic place! In need of a solid restoration though.

Lubo Medera (3 years ago)
Nice place

Ognian Dimitrov (5 years ago)
There are only ruins left in the theater that are not very interesting. Extremely interesting is the nearby Santuario Repubblicano Museum with preserved frescoes from a republican temple as well as the adjacent Capitolium o Tempio Capitolino.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright Staffan O Andersson

Historic Site of the week

Gamla Uppsala Church

The stone church of Gamla Uppsala, built over the pagan temple, dates from the early 12th century. Due to fire and renovations, the present church is only a remnant of the original cathedral.

Before the arrival of Christianity in Sweden, Gamla Uppsala was the seat of Swedish kings and a ceremonial site known all over northern Europe. The settlement was home to royal palaces, a royal burial ground, and a great pagan temple. The Uppsala temple, which was described in detail by Adam of Bremen in the 1070s, housed wooden statues of the Norse gods Odin, Thor and Freyr. A golden chain hung across its gables and the inside was richly decorated with gold. The temple had priests, who sacrificed to the gods according to the needs of the people.

The first Christian cathedral was probably built in the 11th century, but finished in the 12th century. The stone building may have been preceded by a wooden church and probably by the large pagan temple.