Greek Theatre of Segesta, Greek theatre in Calatafimi-Segesta, Italy.

The Greek Theatre of Segesta is built of local limestone on the north acropolis of Monte Barbaro, facing the Gulf of Castellammare. Its cavea, 63 m in diameter, is split by a diazoma into a lower section of 21 rows in seven wedges and an upper section whose rows are largely lost. Two slightly offset entrances served up to 4,000 spectators.

The theatre was built in the second half of the 2nd century BCE, when the Elymian city of Segesta was under Greek cultural influence. It stands on the north acropolis of Monte Barbaro, on a site used for worship centuries earlier. In the early Roman imperial period the orchestra was enlarged at the expense of a row of seats and the stage front was extended. Between the 12th and 13th centuries housing covered the theatre and its access road, and it was heavily restored in the 19th century.

The theatre served as a gathering place for the community to watch performances and hold public assemblies. It was central to how people spent their leisure time and made collective decisions.

Visitors reach the theatre via a paved road leading to the western side. The pathways are accessible, and climbing to the top rewards you with wide views across the landscape.

The cavea is not cut into the rock but built on retaining walls, as at Syracuse. West of the theatre a paved road leads to a natural grotto with a sacred spring used in the Bronze Age, later enclosed in the cavea's supporting wall.