Roman Theatre of Catania in Catania, Italy

Via Vittorio Emanuele II is one of Catania's main thoroughfares, running east to west through the city center and several notable piazzas. Near the road's midpoint, through the front doors of a nondescript two storey building is the Teatro Romano di Catania, a Roman theater dating from the 1st century AE.

The theatre was constructed over an old Greek theatre, that was likely the setting for Alcibiades’ speech to Catanaeans in 415 BC, persuading them to ally with Athens against Sparta and Syracuse during the Peloponnesian Wars.

The entire venue consists of two theatres, there is the Odeon, a smaller, more intimate semi-circular venue, on the upper west side. The main theatre consists of 21 rows of seats built into the hillside in a classic half bowl pattern. The stage was decorated with marble columns and designed to utilize the waters of the Amenano River running beneath it, in live performances. 

With the downfall of the Roman Empire, the theatre was no longer used, and the decorative marble was removed and used to build the nearby Basilica Cattedrale di Sant’Agata. While the expansion of the city led to many of the main theatre's terraces and underground corridors being built over by the buildings of Catania’s now UNESCO world heritage listed Baroque city center.

After the great earthquake of 1693 damaged most of the overlying structures and much of the city, it wasn't until 1770 that the site was excavated. Under the orders of the Prince, Ignazio Paternò di Biscari, the buildings constructed inside the theatre were demolished, allowing the monument to somewhat brought back to its original splendor and appearance.

A cross section of the city's history can be seen from the top of the main theater. The ancient theatre and baroque building facades, contrast with visible modern home amenities, such as TV antennas, plumbing and air conditioning. It is not unusual to see residents in the neighbouring buildings through their windows, or relaxing on their balconies.

From street level, the banners on the entrance building's exterior, and a plain white stone plaque engraved 'Teatro Romano', are the few hints of this magnificent structure's existence. Unlike other Roman theatres which stand isolated in prestigious locations, Catania's theatre is unique in being surreptitiously blended in amongst the city's hilly roads and buildings. Tourists walking along Via Vittorio Emanuele II could be easily forgiven for strolling past, without realizing the 7000 capacity Roman theatre lurking mere yards away.