Benevento's Roman Theater: a historical monument of rare beauty

About this activity

Benevento is the main center of Sannio, and is a city rich in a great cultural and archaeological heritage stemming from Samnite, Roman, Lombard, and papal rule. Located in the Apennine hinterland of Campania, it offers tourists a wide range of things to see, including its splendid Roman Theater. Benevento's Roman Theater is located in Piazza Ponzio Telesino, in the Rione Triggio neighborhood; it appears to have been inaugurated between 125 and 128 A.D. by Emperor Hadrian, to whom an epigraph visible near the frontescene has also been dedicated. From an architectural point of view, the structure is very reminiscent of the Teatro Marcello in Rome and is still used in summer to host concerts and performances.

History of the Roman Theater of Benevento

As mentioned, Benevento's Roman Theater was officially opened under Hadrian. Recently, structures were found buried by rubble due to a flood in the first century AD. Because of this, the theater is thought to have been built over the remains of another pre-existing building. Left to neglect in the Lombard period, it was then partially buried in later centuries to be used as a foundation for other dwellings.

It is then only unearthed again in 1890 thanks to the architect Almeric Meomartini, who carries out the initial excavation work from his own pocket, drawing a fairly accurate plan of the remaining sections hidden by neighboring houses. The work of excavation began in 1923 and continued in the following years, stopping in 1930 following an earthquake. They resumed in 1934 with the expropriation of surrounding homes, only to stop again during the World War II because of the bombings that damage much of Benevento's historic center.

The Roman Theater remains fortunately unharmed, and after the war the excavated area is converted into a repository for statues, epigraphs, and other architectural elements from damaged buildings. In the 1950s major restoration work was carried out, especially on the cavea, and the theater was finally restored to its former glory. The official reopening to the public took place on June 26, 1957, when Aristophanes' play "Women in Parliament" was brought to the stage. From that year on, a new era began for Benevento's Roman Theater. For example, in 1990 it was chosen as the location for the final episode of Miss Italy and in 2001 the music festival Festivalbar was held there. Even today it still hosts theatrical and opera performances and events. Since 2014 the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities has entrusted its management to the Polo Museale della Campania. Since 2019 the Roman Theater has had its own opera season and evening openings are promoted with the Benevento Città Teatro festival, subsidized by the Campania Region.

The remains of the Roman Theater of Benevento

The ancient Roman Theater of Benevento was built according to the typical theater model of the Augustan and imperial ages. Unlike the Greek theater built on a slope from which the tiers of seats were derived, the Roman theater was built flat, with a semicircular cavea supported by arches and vaults.

This theater originally could seat 15,000 people and was built in opus caementicium (opus caementicium) with brick facings and stone blocks. It consists of a 98-meter diameter cavea and a 30-meter orchestra. The semicircular cavea, that is, where spectators sit, is accessible through stairways and corridors, and three orders could be admired: Corinthian, Ionic, and Tuscanic.

Unfortunately, only the lower order, consisting of 25 arches resting on pillars with Tuscan half-columns, has come down to us today. The frontscene that housed the stage set shows a niche center and two small indentations with apses sides, in whose axes are the Porta Regia and two smaller openings. On either side of the scene are two rooms, the aulae, of which one still retains the covering marble polychrome. Also behind the stage, stairs lead to a level below, probably an access for performers. Benevento's Roman Theater underwent a major restoration in Severan period, but it is still unclear from what historical era the structure has not been used for theatrical performances.

More recent studies have shown that the Roman theater and much of the southern area of the city remained outside the city walls built in the 4th century AD. From this period and until the Middle Ages, the complex was encompassed by other dwellings and stripped of the stone elements used to carry out other building works in the area. The presence of houses near the theater is evidenced by paintings and cartographies from the 18th and 19th centuries. Meanwhile, in 1782 the archbishop of Benevento commissioned the construction of the Church of Santa Maria della Verità, which was erected on the ancient lamioni of the theater.

Admission times and tickets for Benevento's Roman Theater.

Benevento's Roman Theater is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and admission tickets are very affordable and accessible to all. From November 1 to March 15, opening hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. (last admission 5:20 p.m.); from March 16 to October 31: 9:00 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. (last admission 7:00 p.m.). The full ticket costs just 2 euros, while the reduced ticket is 1 euro for children up to 25 years old. For university students, access to the Roman theater is free. The archaeological site offers other free admissions on certain days of the year such as May 21 (International Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development), June 2 (Republic Day) and October 13 (Family Day at the Museum).

So what are you waiting for? The tour of Benevento's Roman Theater is waiting for you!