Greek Theatre of Syracuse, Greek theatre in Syracuse, Italy
The stone theatre, carved into Temenite Hill, features a semicircular auditorium that could accommodate 16,000 spectators and includes an orchestra space.
Built in the 5th century BC and renovated in 238 BC under Hieron II, the theatre witnessed premieres of works by Aeschylus, including The Persians.
Since 1914, the National Institute of Ancient Drama organizes annual performances of Greek tragedies and comedies in the original theatrical space.
The theatre stands within the Neapolis Archaeological Park, which contains additional ancient structures like the Roman amphitheater and limestone quarries.
The structure maintains exceptional acoustic properties, allowing voices from the stage to reach all sections of the auditorium without artificial amplification.
Location: Syracuse
Creator: Damocopos
Official opening: 4 century
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Creator: Damocopos
GPS coordinates: 37.07611,15.27500
Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:30
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.
Ear of Dionysius
112 m
Madonna delle Lacrime Sanctuary
926 m
Neapolis
276 m
Temple of Apollo
2.1 km
Roman amphitheatre of Syracuse
121 m
Santa Lucia al Sepolcro sanctuary
1.5 km
Museo archeologico regionale Paolo Orsi
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Latomia dei Cappuccini
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Catacombs in Syracuse
942 m
Venus Landolina
994 m
Altar of Hieron
274 m
San Giovanni Evangelista
835 m
Tomba di Archimede
601 m
Grotta del Ninfeo
53 m
Monumento ai Caduti italiani d'Africa
1.9 km
Bikeway Rossana Maiorca (Syracuse)
1.8 km
Foro Siracusano
1.3 km
Via dei Sepolcri
103 m
Gymnasium
1.1 km
Old market
2.1 km
Terme di Dafne
1.5 km
San Nicolò dei cordari
286 m
Arco augusteo, Siracusa
526 m
San Paolo Apostolo, Siracusa
2.1 km
Santa Maria dei Miracoli
2.2 km
Archaic Greek theatre (Syracuse)
154 m
Statue of Archimedes
1.9 km
Reimann's Villa
583 mReviews
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