he Roman Theatre of Chieti is thought to have been built in the 1st century A.D., in the period of greatest splendour of the ancient city. In ancient times the Theatre had a circular shape, as shown by the left wing of the cavea in which some internal corridors are preserved, which are the only evidence of how the building developed; the large cavea measured more than 80 meters in diameter allowing a large number of spectators (about 5,000).
Adapted to the type of terrain on which it stood, the mighty structure was partly leaning against the slope of the adjacent hillside and partly built of concrete with stone and brick lining in rows, "ad opus reticolatum". A wide staircase climb allowed access to the main entrance and to the corridor above the cavea which ended with a marvellous play of arches that made the Roman Theatre of Chieti the major centre of attraction of the Roman Teate, together with the Terme, another public place much appreciated by the Romans.
