Carved directly into the hillside beneath the castle, the Sagunto Roman Theatre has overlooked the city for two millennia. Built in the 1st century AD during the reign of Emperor Tiberius, it was more than just a venue for performances—it became a symbol of the cultural strength and prosperity of ancient Saguntum. With its semicircular shape designed to hold 8,000 spectators, the theatre offered perfect acoustics, while its monumental appearance made it an architectural gem of the Roman Mediterranean. As early as 1896, the complex was declared a National Monument, becoming one of the first heritage sites in Spain to receive official state protection.
Centuries have taken their toll on the theatre: it endured destruction, looting, and numerous alterations. By the late 20th century, little remained of its former grandeur—just ruins. In the early 1990s, the Valencian Community government, then led by Socialist Joan Lerma, launched an ambitious restoration project. The goal was bold: to return the theatre to its original role and make it a stage once again. The renovation was entrusted to architects Giorgio Grassi and Manuel Portaceli.
Their approach was radical. They didn’t just reinforce the remaining structures—they actually rebuilt the lost sections using modern materials, including white concrete and new stone. Part of the seating area was reconstructed, and the stage wall was fully rebuilt, restoring the venue to its original size. The idea was to offer the public not just picturesque ruins, but a fully functioning cultural venue. However, the result sparked a storm of outrage.
The project split the expert community. Some called it a bold and necessary reinterpretation; others saw it as an unacceptable intervention, blurring the line between the original and the new, and undermining the monument’s authenticity. The conflict quickly escalated into a court battle, initiated by a representative of the opposition People’s Party. In 1993, the High Court of Valencia ordered the work to stop, and in 2008, Spain’s Supreme Court affirmed that the reconstruction had irreversibly changed the theater’s historic appearance and violated heritage protection law.
It seemed the fate of the new stage was sealed. The court order required part of the constructions to be dismantled. But by then, the political situation had changed, and the People’s Party government together with Sagunto’s city hall opposed the demolition. Their main argument was that trying to return everything to its ‘original’ state would do even greater, possibly irreversible, damage. In the end, after long debates, the theater was left as we see it today.
And it lives on. Every summer, its steps fill with crowds gathered for the famous festival ‘Sagunt a Escena’. Here, just as two thousand years ago, the lines of ancient tragedies are performed, along with concerts and modern productions. Thanks to its unique architecture, the acoustics remain perfect even without amplifiers, and the sunset over the walls of the neighboring castle turns any show into an unforgettable event.
You can visit the theater completely free of charge all year round. It is open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday, as well as on Sundays and holidays in the morning hours. Although improvement works are currently underway in the surrounding area to enhance access and navigation, entry to the site itself remains unrestricted. It is still one of the most impressive historic venues in the Valencian Community, where the past and present meet on a single stage.
