Teatro Romano

Italian

There was a theatre in the heart of Milan two thousand years ago. Nowadays, its remains are scattered over an area of 450 sq. metres and kept inside Palazzo Turati, the historical building that houses the Chamber of Commerce of Milan, Monza Brianza, Lodi.
If you want to visit the theatre, you have to book an appointment.
The Chamber undertook to restore and promote one of the city’s few vestiges of the Roman era, a location that was fundamental to Milan’s identity in the remote past. The Chamber, in collaboration with the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, started the studies on the remains of the theatre in 2004 to reconstruct its role in the ancient city and its importance for the citizens’ everyday lives.

The remains were discovered at different times starting from the end of the 19th century, while some buildings were under construction, close to Cordusio square and corso Magenta. More recently, there have been other findings while revamping Palazzo Turati: in fact, the foundations of the so-called cavea were brought to light.
It was the area where the Roman spectators, sitting on semi-circular bleachers, watched the actors in the scene.

The “Teatro Romano” dates back to Caesar Augustus’ empire (31 BC - 14 AD) and remained in operation till the IV century Ad. However, it remained Milan’s public life hub even in later periods; from an entertainment place, it was turned into a sort of meeting place for the citizens who gathered in the People’s Assembly during the Middle Ages.

Scholars hold that, had not the theatre been destroyed by Frederick I “Redbeard” after the siege of Milan, the cavea would have remained intact to the present day.

The “Sensitive Museum” of the theatre was opened to the public in February 2008. Since then, it has welcomed more than 45,000 visitors, mostly upperclassmen/women and undergraduates, who have been allowed to discover this flagship of the ancient Mediolanum: a Roman city which would host historic figures/populations like Insubres, Romans, Emperor Caesar Augustus and Maximianus Herculius, Attila and Huns, Langobards and Frederick I “Redbeard” throughout its long history.

A multimedia tour makes it possible to experience various essences typical of imperial Rome, such as rose, saffron, sweet wine and human/animal scents while walking between light and shade on a transparent walkway above the remains of the bleachers and listening to background music. Furthermore, visitors are guided by the voice of famous actor Giorgio Albertazzi declaiming Plauto’s comedy lines in Latin. It is a very innovative way to enjoy this tour located in Milan downtown, at a stone’s throw from the Stock Exchange, in the basement of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan, Monza Brianza, Lodi.
The multimedia tour has been prepared by the Archaeology Department of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan.

How to visit the “Teatro Romano” of Milan

The guided tour of the “Teatro Romano” is free of charge.
To book your appointment, go to the dedicated webpage.

Further information on the history of the “Teatro Romano” can be found here.