Roman Theatre of Cartagena: A 2000-Year-Old Amphitheater concealed in the heart

The Roman Theatre of Cartagena, also known as the Roman Theatre of Carthago Nova, is a Roman amphitheater located in the densely built historic center of Cartagena, Spain. Constructed in 1 BC, it was designed to host Roman theatrical performances. Over the course of its two centuries of use, the theatre underwent periodic restorations as it was affected by the passage of time. A Roman house was intentionally demolished to make way for the construction of the theatre.

However, a fire in the 5th century AD caused significant destruction of the theatre’s architectural framework. What remained was dismantled and its components were used to build a market. In the centuries that followed, the area fell into disuse, with various civilizations, including Byzantines, Visigoths, and Moors, using it for various purposes. It remained buried and forgotten until it was rediscovered during the 1990s. Excavations between 1996 and 2003 revealed nearly all of the structure, and the Roman Theatre Foundation was created in 2003 to promote its conservation.

Today, the Roman Theatre of Cartagena is an important historical monument and a popular tourist attraction, attracting over 200,000 visitors per year.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons