Greek Roman Theater of Catania

In addition to the known Anfiteatro Romano, Located in Stesicoro squareIn the heart of the historical center of Catania, the city also boasts another important similar archaeological site, known as Greek-Roman Theater. It is a monumental building that best represents the coexistence of the artistic currents of the Greeks and Romans, who are just some of the populations that, throughout history, have dominated in Sicily, leaving important evidence of their culture, thanks to which it was possible to lay the foundations for the development of the current Catania society. The Greek Roman Theater, therefore, is not only a historical site but it is a real piece of local culture, which continues to represent, even today, the junction point between two of the most iconic populations of the entire history of man.

History of the Greek Roman Theater of Catania

The history of the Greek Roman Theater in Catania is quite articulated, being able to divide them into two different eras, in order to be able to better understand all the details that led the Greeks and Romans to choose this place for the construction of one of their most important architectural works.

• Greek Period: according to historical reconstructions, the Greek Roman Theater already existed during the 415th century BC, the certainty of which comes from an ancient document dated 1884 BC which mentions that this place was chosen for a civic assembly. The Greek component of this theater was identified between 1919 and XNUMX, in which various excavations were carried out which brought to light several blocks of white sandstone on which there were numerous engravings of Greek letters.
• Roman Period: the evidence of Roman influence on the theater is even more marked, as their advent in Catania was subsequent to that of the Greeks. The Romans almost completely restructured the Greek layout during the first century AD, while in the following century they undertook to redevelop the entire area where this monument stood, in order to make the whole area decidedly more aristocratic, so much so that of spa facilities.

Architecture of the Greek Roman Theater of Catania

The Greek-Roman Theater appears today with a slightly remodeled structure, although originally it was a splendid monumental building. At the time, the Greek Roman Theater boasted a very detailed scene, enhanced by the large number of marble columns that surrounded her. The area used fororchestra it developed with a diameter of about 22 meters, totally covered by Opus Sectile. The Stalls, however, covered a diameter of about 100 meters, in which there were 21 series of seats. The entire plexus was embellished by the presence of numerous marble works, in addition to many statues and reliefs showing gods mythological motifs.

How to get to the Greek Roman Theater of Catania

The Greek Roman Theater of Catania is located in a central area of ​​the city, therefore easily reachable both by car and by public transport, from the AMT Catania buses to the Catania underground lines. The city can also be reached by train and plane, thanks to the simultaneous presence of the Catania railway station and the Catania Fontanarossa airport, which connect the city with numerous other national and international destinations.

© Image by Archaeo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons