Activities In Nerja, Málaga & Surrounds - Andalusia, Spain

The Roman Theater of Málaga is the main preserved vestige of Roman presence in the city.

About The Theatre:

It was built in the early years of the 1st century AD, at the beginning of the Roman Empire, at a time when numerous public buildings were being built to transform the city into a symbol of the new political, economic, and religious life.

Before the theater, this space housed Republican-era thermal baths, and part of the ‘opus spicatum’ (the type of floor construction / pattern) floor remains . The theater was partly built on the structures of these baths, which were moved to a nearby site.

The Roman Theatre of Málaga is a medium-sized theatre that preserves much of the cavea or seating, the orchestra chamber richly decorated with large marble slabs, and the scaena (stage), whose floor has been reproduced today with a wooden platform as it would have been in its original state. The stage apparatus would have been closed at the back by an ornamental façade decorated with openings, columns, and sculptures, several examples of which have been recovered.

From a construction point of view, it is a mixed-use project, as it uses, on the one hand, part of the hillside to build a significant section of the cavea (seating tiers), in the style of Greek theatres, and the rest is built on artificial foundations.

The theater was in use for two centuries, although by the end of the 2nd century AD it was already very sparsely used.

Its final abandonment is documented at an undetermined time in the 3rd century AD. After the building was looted and filled in, the entire space was occupied by structures related to the salting industry. A series of basins are preserved and can be seen under the glass pyramid on Acazabilla Street, where, in addition to salting, the famous garum (fermented fish sauce) was produced .

From the 5th century AD, a new change in use occurred. The Roman theater space was presented as a necropolis area from which a series of double-sided tile burial sites have been excavated. Some tombs are preserved at a higher level than the theater, to the west of the interpretation center.

For centuries, the Roman theater of Málaga remained hidden beneath the streets and dwellings that existed on the slopes of the Alcazaba. In 1940, a building was constructed to house the Palace of Archives, Libraries, and Museums of Málaga, known as the House of Culture. During the landscaping work carried out in 1951 in front of the building’s main entrance, a monumental structure was uncovered, which was initially interpreted as one of the gates in the Roman wall. The appearance of a series of stepped steps following the arch revealed that it was a Roman theater, and that the vaulted structure was an Aditus Maximus (or ‘most important entrance’), while the steps corresponded to the cavea (seating). The rest of the theater had been left beneath the foundations of the House of Culture.

A period of several decades began, marked by periods of excavation, consolidation, and constant debate, culminating in the demolition of the cultural center, the extensive excavation of the entire site, and the restoration of the archaeological site.

It is currently an archaeological site open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, consisting of an interpretation center and the archaeological site itself.

Other General Info:

Protocol for weather alerts:

For safety reasons, the site may be closed to the public, especially on days of extreme weather.

Please confirm in advance whether the site is open to avoid disappointment.

Conditions for public visits:

For reasons of conservation of heritage collections, as well as for reasons of security of people and facilities, the following condition is established for public visits:

– Pursuant to the provisions of Article 29.3 of Law 7/2023, of March 28, on the protection of animal rights and welfare, entry with animals is not permitted, with the exception of assistance dogs for people with disabilities , and always in accordance with the provisions contained in the regulations in force on this matter.

Service for obtaining images, copies and reproductions of cultural assets:

To take photographs and recordings of the sites managed by the Regional Government of Andalusia, it is necessary to obtain authorization through the following form:

Access to the request for reproductions and authorization of images, copies and reproductions

Submit a suggestion or complaint:

Those interested in formalizing a suggestion or complaint can do so using the electronic form available on the following page: Book of suggestions and complaints