Teatro Romano e Area Archeologica
Just outside the medieval walls, at the foot of Monte Ingino, a beautifully preserved 1st-century AD Roman theatre sits in a quiet grassy enclosure that most visitors walk straight past on their way to the cable car. It is one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in central Italy and it is almost always uncrowded.
The Theatre Itself
Built during the Augustan period, the theatre could seat around 6,000 spectators — remarkable for a town of Gubbio's size and a reminder that ancient Iguvium was a prosperous Roman municipium. The curved cavea is largely intact, the stage foundations are clearly legible, and the scale only becomes apparent when you walk down onto the orchestra floor and look back up at the tiered seating.
The adjacent Antiquarium (small museum) displays finds from the site including portrait busts, architectural fragments and everyday objects that paint a vivid picture of Roman provincial life. It is modest in size but well labelled in Italian and English.
The Surrounding Park
The archaeological zone is set in a shaded park with mature trees and picnic benches — an ideal lunch stop before or after the funivia ride. In summer, the theatre hosts open-air concerts and occasional classical drama performances; check the Comune di Gubbio events calendar for the programme.
The walk from the theatre along the base of the medieval walls toward Porta Metaurense takes about 15 minutes and reveals the extraordinary transition from Roman stonework to medieval masonry — two civilisations literally built on top of each other.
More of Gubbio
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Gubbio →
