The Roman Theatre of Neapolis

The Roman Theatre of Neapolis, an ancient building located in the heart of Naples' historic centre along the Decumano Superiore, precisely in Via San Paolo, is an imposing structure that could hold up to 5,000 spectators. This theatre was even trodden by the Emperor Nero, who held a great love for the city of Neapolis, at the time an important cultural centre of Greek tradition.

Among the many wonders of Naples' historic centre stands the ancient Roman Theatre of Neapolis, which today lies immersed within a vast area surrounded by buildings, bounded by what are now Via Anticaglia, Via S. Paolo ai Tribunali and Vico Giganti, in the upper decumanus of Naples.

This theatre, of considerable size and open to the sky, once occupied the northern part of the forum, the city's main public area. For several years now, an excavation and enhancement project for the theatre has been under way, overseen by the Special Superintendency for Archaeological Heritage of Naples and Pompeii, in collaboration with the Municipality of Naples.

This fascinating work of "urban archaeology" is gradually bringing to light the extraordinary structures of the ancient theatre.

Guided tours of the excavation site are periodically organised, offering visitors the chance to admire a part of this great and almost unknown Roman Theatre of Neapolis. Descending into the depths below ground, one can see the two circular corridors (ambulacra), from which open the service rooms (cunei), the staircases leading up to the higher tiers of seating (media and summa cavea), and the spaces connected to the lower seats reserved for illustrious figures (vomitoria).

Coming back out into the open, you find yourself standing on a section of the uncovered cavea, its tiers of seating still white, literally surrounded by the ancient buildings that form the backdrop to everyday life in Naples, with washing hung out to dry and the sounds of music and voices drifting from the homes all around.

This theatre, which has come down to us intact from Roman times, once stood a short distance from the Temple of the Dioscuri, today overshadowed by the church of San Paolo Maggiore. The theatre's present appearance dates back to the late 1st and early 2nd century AD, a period in which it was completely rebuilt, probably following the earthquake of 62 AD or the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.