Teatro Romano
The Roman Theatre of Colonia Iulia Gemella Acci is one of the town’s most impressive treasures, on a par with the theatres of Mérida and Cartagena. Julius Caesar decided to found a Roman colony on the site of present-day Guadix shortly after the Battle of Munda in March 45 BC, to house the veterans of the Legio Prima and Legio Secunda. The colony's establishment, beginning in 29–27 BC, entailed such a large-scale construction programme that it left behind significant archaeological remains. The theatre was a monumental complex spanning almost 6,000 m², built at the start of the second quarter of the 1st century AD. It was organised into three sections: the scanea, the orchestra and the cavea. The scaenae housed all the elements and rooms necessary for theatrical performances. The orchestra is the semicircular space that separates the stage from the stands. The cavea was the seating area for spectators. The construction of Roman theatres was intended to provide leisure activities for an increasingly large urban population. In this case, a Roman colony founded to house veterans of two legions required a fundamental building that reflected the Roman way of life. It is located on Avenida Mariana Pineda. Opening Times: Sundays, 11:00hrs. Tel: 958 66 28 04