Roman Theatre of Cádiz, Ancient Roman theatre in Cádiz, Spain
The Roman Theatre of Cádiz is an ancient Roman structure in the El Pópulo district of Cádiz, Spain. It features a horseshoe-shaped seating area carved into natural rock, with a large vaulted gallery running beneath the tiers and an outer wall built from carefully cut stone blocks.
The theatre was built around 70 BC at the initiative of Lucius Cornelius Balbus the Elder, a native of Cádiz and close ally of Julius Caesar, as part of a planned expansion of the city. After falling into disuse, it was buried under medieval buildings and only rediscovered in 1980 during construction work in the El Pópulo district.
The site is in the El Pópulo district on Calle Mesón, reachable on foot through the narrow streets of the old city. Sturdy footwear is a good idea since some surfaces around the ruins are uneven.
The main stage and the area behind it have never been excavated and remain buried beneath the current buildings of El Pópulo. A visitors' centre on site displays a detailed scale model showing what the complete theatre may have looked like.
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