Parco Archeologico Greco-Romano di Catania, Catania

Parco Archeologico Greco-Romano di Catania, Catania

The Parco Archeologico Greco-Romano di Catania off Via Vittorio Emanuele near Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi has ruins that shed light on the Roman and Greek origins of the city.

The Parco Archeologico Greco-Romano di Catania off Via Vittorio Emanuele near Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi has ruins that shed light on the Roman and Greek origins of the city. Founded by the Sicels around 1200 BC as 'Katane', colonized by Greek Chalcidians from Naxos in 729 BC, and conquered by the Romans in 242 BC during the Punic Wars, Catania's eventful history is explored in the museum here. The Roman Theatre from the 3rdcentury BC was built on an older Greek theatre from 500 BC. The curved cavea (seating area) is believed to have accommodated upto 6000 spectators. The nearby Odeum is a much smaller theatre, with a seating capacity of 1300. The Terme della Rotonda from the 2ndcentury lies further north, with the Church of Santa Maria della Rotonda and ancient thermae (baths).