Theatre of Marcellus

Welcome to the Theatre of Marcellus, one of the most significant and remarkably preserved structures of ancient Rome. As you stand before its massive, semicircular facade, you might be forgiven for thinking you are looking at a…

Standing close to the base of the theater, we can truly appreciate the 'sobriety' and elegance of the Augustan style. The facade is composed of two tiers of open arches, framed by half-columns. …

To the left of the theater's main curve stand three magnificent, reconstructed columns that belong to the Temple of Apollo Sosiano. This temple is even older in its foundations than the theater, dating back to the 5th century BC,…

The low ruins you see on this patch of grass, just adjacent to the Temple of Apollo, are all that remain of the Temple of Bellona. Bellona was the Roman goddess of war, and her temple held a very specific and dramatic function in…

As we move further along the archaeological path, we encounter the imposing remains of the Portico of Octavia. This was a massive rectangular enclosure, roughly the size of a football field, which surrounded two temples dedicated…

As we ascend the ramp and look back up at the Theater of Marcellus, we must focus on the upper levels which we initially noted. This is the Palazzo Savelli, later the Orsini Palace. …

Before we leave the archaeological zone, we should take notice of a small, somewhat isolated structure: a medieval house that survived the massive clearances of the 1930s. While most of the post-antique buildings were demolished…

As we stand back and view the Theatre of Marcellus in its entirety, we are looking at more than just a magnificent ruin. We are looking at a masterclass in architectural influence and urban continuity. …