Roman Theatre and Archaeological Museum
Last updated on September 10, 2026Overview
Verona has two Roman entertainment buildings, and most visitors only find one. The Arena is the amphitheatre, for games; the Teatro Romano, on the far bank of the Adige below Castel San Pietro, is the theatre, for drama.
It was built in the late first century BC, buried under houses for centuries, and dug out from the 1830s by a Veronese merchant who bought the buildings on top of it and pulled them down.
Above the seating, in a former convent, sits the Archaeological Museum. The theatre still stages plays each summer, which is the best way to see it.
Quick Facts
- Type: Historic Place
- Local name: Teatro Romano e Museo Archeologico (vedi la pagina italiana)
- Built: Late 1st century BC; excavated from the 1830s
- Architectural style: Roman
- Verona’s other Roman building: The Arena is an amphitheatre, for games; this is a theatre, for drama. It uses the hillside to carry its tiers, the Greek solution, rather than standing free like the Arena.
- Dug out at one man’s expense: The site had vanished under houses. From the 1830s the Veronese merchant Andrea Monga bought the buildings covering it and demolished them himself to excavate what lay beneath.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Yes
Visit Responsibly
The Roman stonework is the exhibit and much of it is walked on. Keep to the marked routes, and do not climb on the ruined stage building or the substructures.
Do not remove anything, including loose fragments -- this remains an archaeological site.
The hillside above is residential. Keep noise down, particularly leaving evening performances.
Combining the ticket with the Verona Card supports the city's smaller museums, which are far less visited than this one.
Arrive on foot over Ponte Pietra rather than driving; the streets on this bank are narrow and largely residential.
Plan Your Visit
One ticket covers the theatre and the museum, and both are included in the Verona Card.
It is across Ponte Pietra from the centre, about ten minutes' walk from Piazza delle Erbe, and combines naturally with the bridge and with Castel San Pietro above.
The site closes on Monday mornings and has seasonal hours; during the summer festival the theatre itself may be closed to daytime visitors while staging is set up, so check if the ruin is your main interest.
Allow an hour to ninety minutes with the museum.
This is a steep, stepped hillside site on uneven ancient stone. It is not wheelchair accessible and is hard going for anyone with limited mobility. There is a lift within part of the museum.
Wear proper shoes; the stone is slippery when wet.