The Roman Theatre can be found in the street of the same name, at the foot of the San Giusto hill, just a few steps from Corso Italia. This 2000-year-old structure is one of the most impressive remnants of Roman Trieste, or Tergeste. The theatre was originally located by the seafront (and during storms, the water can still rise to this level) and was designed to accommodate 3500 spectators. For centuries, it remained buried, waiting to be uncovered, as houses were built on the ruins during the Middle Ages. Although Pietro Nobile identified it as early as 1814, thanks to the name of the village above it (Rena Vecia = Old Arena), it was only uncovered in 1938 during large-scale demolition and city renovation works. The statues and tombstones that once decorated the theatre are now displayed at the Orto Lapidario next to the San Giusto Cathedral. In 2024, archaeologists resumed excavation work, and exciting parts of Roman buildings were uncovered beneath the previously paved parking lot.
By the way, there’s a community bike-sharing station and a DeSpar here, and in the nearby parking garage, there’s an elevator that takes you up to the San Giusto Castle and the cathedral. Feel free to walk in, all the way along the painted walls!