Roman Fiesole – I
Archaeological Area, the Roman Theater, view towards South-East.
Fiesole, latin “Farsulae”, was an important center of the inner northern Etruria. It is positioned near Florence, over a hill, in strategical position for the control of the Etruscans communication routes. Fiesole was destroyed by Romans in 90 BC. Then the city was reconstructed and transformed in a typical roman city, and it was an important center in the final part of Catilina’s conjures, in 63 B.C.
The Theater and the Baths are the main archaeological evidences of this reconstruction. The Roman theatre was built between the late first century BC and early AD following the Greek model, with the characteristic semicircular shape set on a hill.
The three arches behind the theater set the location of the Roman Baths (1st century BC).
The building had a huge half-round “cavea”, created directly in the rock of the hill; four “vomitoria” (passages) allowed the entrance in a covered gallery, “crypta”, that unfortunately doesn't exist no more. “Cavea” was divided in four zones by stairs in order to let people find their seat more easily. In the space below it, there was the “orchestra” and a space where theatrical performances took place; a wall with a recess, “pulpitum”, delimited frontally the stage, “proscenium”. Behind it there was the “scaena frons” (an architectural stage design), whose foundations and marble decorations are still visible in the Museum.
In Severan age the theatre was restored and embellished. This is a factor that influenced the excellent state of preservation of the theatre. The survived decorations housed in the Museum attest the Theatre was used until the 3rd century AD.
Roman theater
Late 1st century BC
Archaeological Area of Fiesole, Florence
Roman Fiesole – I
Archaeological Area, the Roman Theater, view towards South-East.
Fiesole, latin “Farsulae”, was an important center of the inner northern Etruria. It is positioned near Florence, over a hill, in strategical position for the control of the Etruscans communication routes. Fiesole was destroyed by Romans in 90 BC. Then the city was reconstructed and transformed in a typical roman city, and it was an important center in the final part of Catilina’s conjures, in 63 B.C.
The Theater and the Baths are the main archaeological evidences of this reconstruction. The Roman theatre was built between the late first century BC and early AD following the Greek model, with the characteristic semicircular shape set on a hill.
The three arches behind the theater set the location of the Roman Baths (1st century BC).
The building had a huge half-round “cavea”, created directly in the rock of the hill; four “vomitoria” (passages) allowed the entrance in a covered gallery, “crypta”, that unfortunately doesn't exist no more. “Cavea” was divided in four zones by stairs in order to let people find their seat more easily. In the space below it, there was the “orchestra” and a space where theatrical performances took place; a wall with a recess, “pulpitum”, delimited frontally the stage, “proscenium”. Behind it there was the “scaena frons” (an architectural stage design), whose foundations and marble decorations are still visible in the Museum.
In Severan age the theatre was restored and embellished. This is a factor that influenced the excellent state of preservation of the theatre. The survived decorations housed in the Museum attest the Theatre was used until the 3rd century AD.
Roman theater
Late 1st century BC
Archaeological Area of Fiesole, Florence