Roman Theatre of Málaga

The Roman Theatre of Málaga lies at the foot of the Alcazaba, in the middle of the old town, and it is one of the oldest monuments in the city. The theatre dates to the first century AD, in the time of the emperor Augustus, when the Roman town of Malaca was an important port and a municipium, a city with a certain legal status. It was used for performances for several centuries, and then, as the city changed, it was abandoned and gradually buried. When Muslim builders raised the Alcazaba on the hill above in the eleventh century, they used stones and columns from the theatre in the walls and gateways, so parts of the Roman building are still visible in the fortress above.

The theatre was forgotten for hundreds of years. In 1951, workers building a cultural centre at the foot of the Alcazaba discovered the remains of the semicircular seating area, and excavations began. Over the following decades, archaeologists cleared and studied the structure, and it was restored and reopened to the public in the early twenty-first century. Today the theatre has a well-preserved cavea, the curved seating area built into the hillside, a semicircular orchestra and parts of the stage building. Some of the seating has been restored with new stone, and the contrast between the original and the modern work is easy to see.

An interpretation centre next to the theatre explains the history of Roman Malaca and the story of the discovery. One of its themes is the Lex Flavia Malacitana, the municipal charter granted to the city in the Flavian period, which is preserved in bronze tablets found in the nineteenth century and which lays out the rules of local government and elections. The displays also show finds from the excavations, including architectural fragments and everyday objects.

The site is small, and a visit takes less than an hour, which makes it easy to add to a walk through the old town. It stands next to the entrance to the Alcazaba, so you can look at the theatre and then climb to the fortress, and Gibralfaro Castle is farther up the hill. Calle Larios, Málaga Cathedral and the Picasso Museum Málaga are within walking distance.

It suits history lovers, families and anyone who wants a quick glimpse of the city's ancient roots. Entry has traditionally been free, but opening times vary, so check before going.