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Archaeologists have unearthed what they believe to be the remains of the Roman Emperor Nero’s private theatre in the Italian capital
Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 03 Aug 2023
The remains were discovered beneath the walled garden of the Palazzo della Rovere Credit: Associated Press
The ruins of an ancient theatre belonging to the Roman Emperor Nero have been discovered by archeologists in Rome, Italy.
Built between 53 AD and 64 AD for Nero’s personal use, the theatre is thought to be the one that Nero would rehearse public singing performances at.
The site had previously only been referred to in ancient Roman texts, until now, with the group of archaeologists unearthing its remains.
The ruins, which include a set of marble columns and several rooms thought to have been used as theatre sets, also feature plaster decorated with gold leaf. The find was discovered beneath the walled garden of the Palazzo della Rovere.
Researchers have been working at the site, which is owned by a Vatican chivalric order, since 2020 and have yielded items such as pottery and coloured glass goblets dating back to the 10th century, as well as the theatre itself.
Officials have described the findings as “exceptional” due to the insight they provide into such a broad scope of Roman history.
According to The Guardian, the moveable antiquities are set to go on display at the Pallazo della Rovere, while the theatre remains will be studied before being re-covered.
The site, which is currently leased to the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, will then be turned into a Four Seasons hotel.
Heritage tourism is an incredibly important part of Rome’s economy. Listed at its historical centre as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1980, Rome was the leading municipality in Italy by the number of overnight stays in 2020. In the city, the complex of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the archeological area of the Palatine Hill is by far the city’s most renowned attraction, visited by over 7.6 million tourists in 2019. Overal, the city welcomes more than 10 million tourists annually.
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