Capitoline Museums
Rome, Italy
Theatre of Marcellus, Rome
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Photo: Fiat 500e, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free — viewed from outside and the paths around
- Hours
- Exterior always; paths around it by day
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 20 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Date
- 13–11 BC, under Augustus
- Capacity
- Estimated 11,000–20,000 spectators
- Summer
- Classical concerts by the ruins
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time needed
- 15–20 minutes
- Location
- Via del Teatro di Marcello; 5 minutes from Piazza Venezia
Key facts
13–11 BCAugustus opened the theatre Caesar had begun
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English WikipediaMarcellusnamed after Augustus's nephew and heir
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English Wikipedia11,000–20,000spectators by varying estimates
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English WikipediaModelits arcades with stacked orders were copied by the Colosseum
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English Wikipedia16th centuryBaldassare Peruzzi built a palace on top for the Savelli
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English WikipediaA short history
Julius Caesar planned the theatre and Augustus completed it in 13–11 BC, dedicating it to his nephew and heir Marcus Claudius Marcellus. One of Rome's largest theatres, it held somewhere between 11,000 and 20,000 people for comedies, tragedies and pantomimes.
Its outer wall — two tiers of arches framed by Doric and Ionic half-columns — became the template for the Colosseum, built a century later. Look at it with the Colosseum in mind and the family resemblance is obvious, just on a smaller scale.
A palace on ancient arches
In the Middle Ages the theatre became a fortress held by the Pierleoni, Savelli and Orsini families. In the 16th century Baldassare Peruzzi built a palace for the Savelli right on top of the ancient arches. It still stands, with private apartments — surely among Rome's strangest addresses: Augustan arcades below, windows with geraniums above. It's a very Roman picture of layer upon layer.
How the theatre worked
Unlike Greek theatres cut into hillsides, Roman ones stood on flat ground with seating raised on arches. This one was a semicircle about 130 metres across, with a stage backed by a tall scenic wall and three tiers of seating, ranked by class from senators at the front to ordinary citizens at the top. The third, Corinthian storey of the façade is gone, replaced by the palace.
What to see
- The arcades — two tiers of travertine with half-columns.
- Savelli-Orsini palace — the 16th-century addition on top.
- Temple of Apollo Sosianus — three Corinthian columns beside the theatre.
- Temple of Bellona — foundations by the path.
- Portico of Octavia — the ancient gateway two minutes away.
- Tiber Island — across the road, in the river.
Nearby: the Portico of Octavia and Tiber Island
Two minutes away is the Portico of Octavia, the gateway of a vast colonnade Augustus dedicated to his sister. Around it lies the old Jewish quarter, with narrow lanes, bakeries and trattorias serving carciofi alla giudia — whole fried artichokes. Across the road, Tiber Island is reached by bridges from the 1st century BC. The Mouth of Truth is 10 minutes away and Piazza Venezia five.
How to get there
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Capitoline Museums is about 6 min away on foot.
- Capitoline Hill is about 6 min away on foot.
- Largo di Torre Argentina is about 7 min away on foot.
More tips
- From Piazza Venezia, 5 minutes along Via del Teatro di Marcello.
- From the Capitoline Hill, 3 minutes down the steps.
- Buses 30, 44, 63, 81, 83, 160 and 170 stop at Teatro Marcello.
- From Trastevere, via Tiber Island — 10 minutes.
Is it worth seeing?
Yes, on the way: it's free, near Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline, and one of the best examples of Romans living on top of ancient ruins. Fifteen minutes covers the theatre and the Apollo columns, before a wander through the Jewish quarter. It's especially beautiful after dark, when the arches are lit.
At the theatre
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Ancient Rome: compare and choose
Ancient sites in Rome rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| Pantheon | 82 | 30 min | ≈ €5 | 13 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colosseum | 73 | 2 h | ≈ €18 | 19 min walk |
| Roman Forum | 63 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €18 with Colosseum | 8 min walk |
| Circus Maximus | 63 | 30 min | Free | 15 min walk |
| Trajan's Column | 60 | 15 min | Free | 10 min walk |
| Capitoline Hill | 58 | 30 min | Free | 6 min walk |
| Castel Sant'Angelo | 57 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €15–20 | 29 min walk |
| Arch of Constantine | 57 | 15 min | Free | 16 min walk |
| Palatine Hill | 54 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €18 with Colosseum | 13 min walk |
| Mausoleum of Augustus | 53 | 45 min | ≈ €5, booking | 28 min walk |
| Largo di Torre Argentina | 53 | 30 min | Free from street; walkways ≈ €5 | 7 min walk |
| Pyramid of Cestius | 52 | 20 min | Free | 30 min walk |
| Appian Way | 49 | 3 h | Free | 7.1 km |
| Domus Aurea | 49 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ €18, with VR ≈ €26 | 23 min walk |
| Mouth of Truth | 49 | 20 min | Donation ≈ €2 | 8 min walk |
| Baths of Caracalla | 48 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ €8 | 29 min walk |
| Catacombs of Rome | 48 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €10–12 with guide | 27 min walk |
| Theatre of Marcellusyou are here | 47 | 20 min | Free | — |
| Ara Pacis | 47 | 1 h | ≈ €13–15 | 28 min walk |
| Vatican Museums | 44 | 3 h | ≈ €25 | 45 min walk |
| Capitoline Museums | 43 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ €15–19.50 | 5 min walk |
| Baths of Diocletian | 42 | 1 h | Basilica free; museum ≈ €10–12 | 34 min walk |
| Basilica of San Clemente | 39 | 1 h | Upper free; excavations ≈ €10–12 | 26 min walk |
| Imperial Fora | 38 | 1 h | Free from the street; museum ≈ €13–15 | 10 min walk |
| Testaccio | 38 | 2 h | Free | 31 min walk |
| Palazzo Massimo | 34 | 2 h | ≈ €10–12 combined ticket | 32 min walk |
| Ostia Antica | 31 | 3 h | ≈ €12–18 | 22.1 km |
| Hadrian's Villa | 29 | 3 h | ≈ €12–15 | 25.1 km |
Capitoline to the Tiber
The Capitoline Hill, down to the Theatre of Marcellus, the Mouth of Truth and across the river to Trastevere.
- Capitoline Hill30 min · Free
- 6 min walk from the previous stopTheatre of Marcellusyou are here20 min · Free
- 8 min walk from the previous stopMouth of Truth20 min · Donation ≈ €2
- 23 min walk from the previous stopTrastevere2 h · Free
4 places · about 3 h 47 min with walks · 37 min on foot in total
Nearby and on the way
How to do it right
- Free and steps from Piazza Venezia.
- People still live in the 16th-century flats on top.
- Summer concerts play by the lit arches.
- The Portico of Octavia and Tiber Island are next door.
Questions
Where is the Theatre of Marcellus?
By the Tiber between the Capitoline and Tiber Island, 5 minutes from Piazza Venezia.
Is it free?
Yes, you view it from outside and the paths around it.
When was it built?
Augustus completed it in 13–11 BC.
Who was it named after?
Marcus Claudius Marcellus, Augustus's nephew and heir.
Do people live in the Theatre of Marcellus?
Yes — there are apartments in the palace built on top in the 16th century.
How long do you need?
15–20 minutes.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia, Theatre of Marcellus
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