A Roman theater in Zaragoza

The Romans … where weren’t they? They also left their mark in Zaragoza and you can learn a lot about them at the Museo del Teatro de Caesaragusta. The Roman Theater of Zaragoza, one of 25 Roman theaters in Spain, is also located here.

Coincidences bring history to light!

In 1972, when construction work began on a new building in Calle de la Verónica, old stones were discovered by chance. The scientist Antonio Beltrán Martínez recognized in them the first remains of a Roman theater building. Until then, nothing was known about the existence of the Roman building, as there were no written references.

Naturally, people wanted to know more. The question of whether there would be just a few remains or whether there was much more hidden underground in Zaragoza drove the research forward. But don’t forget, this kind of work can take time… and it was over 30 years before the excavations were completed.

In various stages up to around 1993, the researchers gradually uncovered individual sections. They mapped and dated their finds. They tried to find out where the entrances to the theater had been, where the orchestra area had been and how the rows of seats had been arranged.

A few years later, archaeologists discovered the foundations of the stage building and the northern façade of the theater. In addition, interesting finds were found that can be attributed to the Islamic period of Saragossa. The final phase of the excavations began in 1998. Now the researchers uncovered the stage foundations and part of a double portico. The work was completed in 2002. Around 300,000 pieces (in varying states of preservation and in fragments) had been found during the archaeological excavations of the Roman theater and its grounds. These form the basis for the museums dedicated to the city of Caesaraugusta.

What we know about the theater today

Caesaraugusta is the only known city to have borne the full name of Emperor Caesar Augustus. The city is thought to have been founded in 14 BC, possibly on December 23rd, the emperor’s fiftieth birthday.

The entire complex was probably built during the reign of Tiberius in the 1st century. He had a north-south axis laid out that connected all the important places within the city at the time.

For around 200 years, the theater played an important role in the lives of the people in the city. It was a meeting place where cultural, political and religious values of the Roman Empire were communicated and where social life took place.

Gradually, the activities in the theater declined. In the second half of the 3rd century, the building began to be demolished. The building material was used to construct the city wall.

Life in the city began to change and each era also led to a change in urban structures. Gradually, the site of the Roman theater in Zaragoza “disappeared” and new houses were built. It was only thanks to chance that the remains were rediscovered and made accessible to the public.

Museo del Teatro de Caesaragusta

When you find such unique art and cultural assets, you naturally want to show them off. With the opening of the Museo del Teatro de Caesaragusta, Zaragoza has one more attraction that provides an unexpected insight into history.

To date, 25 Roman theaters have been discovered in Spain. You can visit 13 of them, such as the Roman Theater in Málaga or the Roman Theater in Cádiz. The Teatro de Caesaragusta, the Roman theater in Zaragoza, is also an excellent place to visit on a museum tour.

In total, there are around 1300 m² of exhibition rooms and a good 6000 m² of “monument area” to discover in the museum.

We were first drawn to the “monument area”, i.e. the outdoor area of the museum. This is where the excavated remains of an impressive theater are located. We went through an area of the museum that documents the archaeological excavations and discoveries. Using models, we can see how large the Roman theater in Zaragoza must have been.

The Roman Theater is one of the best-preserved monuments in the city. A path leads across the complex, allowing visitors to experience the space from different perspectives. For example, you can stand on the stage and look into the audience or be in the spectator stands and look at the stage. I really like the information boards with graphics that illustrate what it might have looked like back then and exactly where I am right now. This made it much easier for me to have an approximate picture in my mind’s eye. I was surprised by some of the information about the size of the theater. For example, it is estimated that the building was around 25 meters high. Today, there is a modern roof construction at this height to protect the “remains” of the theater from the weather.

On the second floor of the museum, life in the city and especially around the Roman theater is illustrated with the help of audiovisual media. There are also some artifacts on display.

Is a visit to the Roman Theater of Zaragoza worthwhile?

We enjoyed the visit. Especially because we have already seen several Roman theaters, I find the comparison very exciting. Which elements can I recognize? Where are the differences? I always find it interesting to trace and experience the Roman era outside Italy.

Visitor information

Address

C. de San Jorge, 12, Casco Antiguo,
50001 Zaragoza, Spanien