Overview
In the municipality of Gubbio, in the archaeological area of Guastuglia, there is a Roman theatre, the construction of which was completed around 20 BC by the magistrate Gnaeus Satrius Rufus, using large limestone blocks worked in rustic ashlar. It extends in the late Republican quarter (2nd-1st century BC) over an area from Via Matteotti, Via Perugina, Via Ubaldi and Via Parruccini. A visit to the remains of the theatre and the Antiquarium artefacts is a valuable opportunity to explore the social organisation of the Roman city of Iguvium-Gubbio, learning about the tastes, customs and habits of that period. Accommodating around 6,000 spectators, the building is among the largest of its time and has two orders of arcades, of which only the lower order and some arches of the upper gallery remain standing. In addition, remains of reticulated work are to be found in the corridors of the vomitoriums. The cavea is divided into four chambers, while the bands where there were no steps, probably contained wooden stairs. The orchestra floor, paved with limestone slabs, collects rainwater in a large cistern under the pulpitum. Finally, the frons scaenae includes two quadrangular side niches and a central semicircular one.
