Overview

This beautiful Roman amphitheatre was built between the I and II Centuries CE by Quinto Petronio Modesto. He was the governor of Trieste under the emperor Trajan. It was uncovered between 1937 and 1939 (in fact it was covered with modern and medieval housing). The theatre is located between the Capitoline hill and Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia. It is worth taking a look even if it has been rather badly looked after. At one time it could seat some six thousand spectators in the seats which are built into the hill leading to San Giusto. The semicircle would have been adorned with statues at that time, these are now in the care of the city's history and art museum. It is thought that when it was built it faced toward the sea and was just outside the city walls.