Discover the Best Theatres in Rome

Some of the Best Theatres of Rome

The National Theatre of Rome, also known as the National Dramatic Theatre, is a great place to start. Opened in 1934, it was demolished when the surrounding streets were redeveloped. Fortunately, many of the theatres of ancient Rome were rebuilt and are open to the public today. The best way to book tickets is online so that you can find discounts, choose your seat, and secure tickets for the best shows before the high season starts.
For some of the best plays and musicals, head to Teatro Quirino, near the Trevi Fountain on Via delle Vergini. When it was first opened in 1871, one could watch marionette plays here, as well as fantastic ballet performances and operas. Like many of the other theatres of Rome, it has been significantly remodelled over the years.

Another important theatre in Rome is the Teatro Sistina, found on Via Sistina just at the intersection of Piazza Barberini and Trinità dei Monti. Inaugurated in 1949, you can still catch exciting theatre and cabaret shows here today.
For a slice of Roman theatrical history, consider a visit to Teatro Argentina at the Largo di Torre Argentina. Here, you will find one of the city’s oldest entertainment venues. It was first opened on the 31st of January 1732, after the ruling Sforza Cesarini family had it commissioned to be built and specially designed. Gerolamo Theodoli was the architect who gave it its characteristic horseshoe shape. Because of its age, restoration has been necessary at several points over the years.

More Exciting Art and Culture in the Theatres of Rome

Head to the Colonna district to find the Teatro Capranica, a Rome theatre formerly used as an opera house. It was built centuries ago, in 1679, and many important operas from the Baroque era have since been performed here. Today, it is mostly used for special events and important conferences.
The famous Rome Opera House can be found on Piazza Beniamino Gigli. It first opened in 1880 when it was known as the Constanzi Theater and could seat over 2,000 people. After many renovations, it now seats about 1,600 audience members.
Theatre and history buffs may be interested to know that just a few steps from Piazza Barberini there is a multiplex cinema which used to be an opera house and theatre for artists performing spoken word and prose. At the Street of Four Fountains, or Via delle Quattro Fontane, you will find another interesting theatre of Rome, the Teatro delle Quattro Fontane.

The famous Valley Theatre was also an opera house and is located on Via del Teatro Valle, where you can also visit the Pantheon and Senate buildings. The wealthy Capranica family commissioned it in 1726 and it was designed by the architect Tommaso Morelli. Many dramas and tragedies were staged here, making the repertoires of this theatre of Rome world famous.
No matter where in Rome you go, you will find outstanding entertainment and a thriving street life. But to find out more about the fascinating history and culture of Italy, catch one of the shows being staged daily in the theatres of Rome, such as at the Globe Theatre. At the many theatres in Rome, you really can watch comedies, tragedies and dramas unfold as they have done for centuries. A holiday in Italy is not complete without a trip to the theatre!

Roman theatres in other cities in Europe

Roman history started seven centuries before Jesus Christ was born and lasted four more after his passing away, so more than millennia of Roman culture spread over Europe, Northern Africa and Middle East definitively shaping the world and the way we understand it. Many of their buildings still stand witnessing the non-movement of the passing of time.

Romans started to develop their own structure and style for theatres, basically imitating Pompey Theatre, the first one to become permanent in the empire. More than 300 theatres and amphitheatres can still be found in Europe, from England to Romania, and Mediterranean Sea shores – Mare Nostrum they named this sea, our sea.

Some are bare remains, but many others have been awarded World Heritage by UNESCO as they are almost in mint condition and still operating. Roman amphitheatres were devoted to races, gladiator fights and all sorts of violent shows -matching the Roman liking- but theatres were a different kind. Fortunately, our taste for shows have evolved to harmless forms of enjoyment.

Many are the Roman theatres that have been restored to their old magnificence and are able to offer ancient plays and modern concerts and representations of all kinds for us to enjoy. Let’s have a look at them.

Emerita Augusta, awarded World Heritage in 1993, is present-day Mérida in Southern Spain and the old capital of Lusitania -Roman Portuguese province. The remains are impressive with standing bridges, temples, obelisks and obviously theatres, making it one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. The Roman Theatre in the city still holds many events throughout the year.

Vienne, the old capital of the Gauls, is a small town placed over Rhône River, in East France. The Roman Army would attempt several times to take over the city, encouraged by city wealthy trade and strategic situation, but they ended up repelled - some of them would turn their desperate eyes North to found Lugdunum, today’s Lyon. Julius Caesar would come to govern the empire and Vienne would end up under his rule in 47 BC, becoming a thriving Latin city, where arts and culture flourished unrestrained. Today’s modern ville of Vienne hasn’t forgotten its past and still holds major events of performing arts.

Three hours driving South from Vienne we reach Arles, a multicultural city -it was cosmopolitan even in ancient times- next to Camargue Natural Reserve and the dying place of Van Gogh, who portrayed the town in some of its most famous paintings. Arles can be proud of having among its urban design carefully preserved Roman remains –not to miss the amphitheatre and the water system– but it is the theatre, able to fit more than 9000 viewers with an astounding acoustic, that makes it stick out of the map. The Roman theatre was restored early, at the beginning of 19th century, bringing down the civil and religious building that had encroached on it. Since then, popular events and festivals continue to take place there.

There you have it: whether you’re taking a trip to the capital of Italy and want to explore the best theatres in Rome or want to visit an ancient Roman theatre still-standing in another European country—you have plenty of options available.

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