Roman Theatre of Málaga

The Roman Theatre of Málaga stands at the foot of the Alcazaba on Calle Alcazabilla in the Centro Histórico of Málaga, Andalusia, Spain. It was built in the 1st century CE, during the reign of Augustus, when Malaca was a Roman municipium on the coast of Hispania Baetica. The theatre was used for performances for roughly three centuries, until the late 3rd century CE, after which it fell out of use. In the Islamic period the Alcazaba was built directly above it, and the Roman stone, including columns, capitals and marble blocks, was quarried to build the fortress. The remains were then buried beneath houses and later buildings, and the theatre was rediscovered in 1951 during works for a new Casa de la Cultura. Excavation continued for decades, and a major restoration completed in 2011 consolidated the structure and reopened it to the public. The auditorium, or cavea, is cut partly into the hillside and retains tiered seating, a semicircular orchestra and parts of the stage area, with some modern stone used to complete missing sections. The site shows the typical Roman theatre layout, with a curved seating bank, a stage building and an arrangement for staging plays and public events. An adjacent interpretation centre, in a modern building beside the site, explains the history through displays of finds, models and text in Spanish and English, organised in chronological order. Objects include architectural fragments, pottery and inscriptions found in the excavations. The theatre can be viewed freely from the street at all times, which makes it an easy stop between the cathedral and the Alcazaba. Preservation is fair to good after the restoration, though parts of the original are lost. The site is managed by the city council.