Roman Theatre of Malaca
Roman Theatre of Malaca, Ancient Roman theatre in historic center, Málaga, Spain.
The Roman Theatre of Malaca features a semicircular design carved into the hillside beneath the Alcazaba, with stone seating rows, a marble-decorated orchestra, and remnants of an ornate stage facade that once accommodated approximately 3,000 spectators.
Built during the 1st century BC under Emperor Augustus, this theatre served as the main entertainment venue of ancient Malaca for over 300 years before being abandoned in the 3rd century AD and later used as a cemetery.
The theatre hosted classical Roman performances including tragedies, comedies, and pantomimes, serving as a social gathering place where citizens experienced imperial culture and local elite displayed their wealth through public sponsorship of events.
Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 and Sundays until 16:00, visitors can explore the archaeological remains via wooden walkways while an interpretation center provides historical context through audiovisual displays and original artifacts.
Rediscovered accidentally in 1951 during gardening work, the theatre remains partially buried under modern Málaga, with its stones having been reused to construct the overlying Alcazaba fortress during the Islamic period.
Location: Málaga
Inception: 1 century BCE
Part of: Conjunto Alcazabilla
Address: C/ Alcazabilla, s/n, Distrito Centro, 29015 Málaga, Spain
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-18:00; Sunday 10:00-16:00
Website: https://juntadeandalucia.es/cultura/enclaves/enclave-arqueologico-teatro-romano-de-malaga
GPS coordinates: 36.72119,-4.41687
Latest update: July 25, 2025 19:20
Ancient Greek theaters demonstrate skilled architecture developed between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC. Built into hillsides, these structures utilized natural terrain to create stone seating and enhance acoustic performance. They served as venues for tragedies and comedies, as well as gathering spaces during religious festivals and panhellenic games. Most theaters are located in mainland Greece and on the islands, with notable examples such as Epidaurus in Argolis, renowned for its exceptional sound clarity, or the Theater of Dionysus in Athens, considered the cradle of Western theater where works by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides were performed. Additional sites are found across the eastern Mediterranean, including Miletus in present-day Turkey and Philippi in northern Greece. Some of these structures were modified during the Roman period, such as the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, which incorporated Roman architectural features while maintaining its function as a performance space. Many of these venues, which could seat between 5,000 and 18,000 spectators, remain important remnants of ancient Greek social and cultural life.
Between the Mediterranean and the Andalusian hills, Malaga blends southern warmth with a thousand-year history. Birthplace of Picasso, it combines Moorish fortresses, Renaissance churches, orange-scented alleys, and avant-garde museums. The Alcazaba overlooks the city from its Moorish walls, the Roman theater recalls its origins, and the Cathedral of the Incarnation connects the centuries. Along the port, the Pompidou Center, contemporary galleries, and subtropical gardens revitalize Andalusian modernity. The stroll is slow, between white light and warm shadows, from the Atarazanas market to the views of Gibralfaro. Malaga is no longer just a seaside stopover: it is a city to explore, to see, and to feel.
Alcazaba of Málaga
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157 m
Museo de Málaga
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Iglesia de Santiago
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Palacio de la Aduana
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Convento de San Agustín, Málaga
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Palacio del Marqués de la Sonora
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Palacio de los Condes de Buenavista
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Conjunto histórico de Málaga
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Abadía de Santa Ana
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Casa de Correos y Telégrafos (Málaga)
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Palacio de Zea-Salvatierra
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Centro Ben Gabirol
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Palacio del Conde de Villalcázar
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El invierno
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Monument to Pedro de Mena
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Monument to the 50th Anniversary of Bodegas El Pimpi
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Monument to Andrés Llordén Simón
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Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes
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Monument to Solomon ibn Gabirol
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Monument to Juan Temboury
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Monument to Doctor Gálvez Ginachero
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Manuel Atienza García Gardens
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Cathedral Gardens
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Patio de los Naranjos, Cathedral of Málaga
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Fuente de la Puerta de la Alcazaba
68 mReviews
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