Theatre of Marcellus

The Theatre of Marcellus is a Roman theatre in the Sant'Angelo neighborhood of Rome, Italy, that could hold around 11,000 spectators. The outer façade consists of two preserved rows of 12 arcades each, which still show the original structure of the ancient stage arrangement.

Julius Caesar began work on the theatre in the Campus Martius, but his great-nephew Augustus finished the construction in 13 BC and named it after his deceased nephew Marcus Claudius Marcellus. The structure served as a performance venue for several centuries before being converted into a fortress during the Middle Ages.

The two preserved arcade levels show Doric columns on the ground floor and Ionic columns above, a classic Roman arrangement borrowed from Greek tradition. This stacking of column orders became a model for later buildings across the Roman Empire.

Access to the outer view is free, and you can see the arcades well from the street. The surrounding area is good for walking, and from here other sites in the Jewish Quarter are within reach on foot.

In summer, open-air concerts sometimes take place near the theatre, echoing its original function as a performance venue. The upper floors of the structure are now used as apartments, so ancient architecture and modern life exist side by side.