Greek Theaters

In the Zona Archeologica in the northwest part of the city of Siracusa, Sicily, Italy, the Greek theater (3rd century BC) is one of the largest (440 feet across) and best preserved Greek theaters. The seats were carved from the rocky hillside, and from the top row of seats there’s a nice view of the city of Siracusa.

At Epidaurus, the largest (12,000 spectators) surviving theater in Greece, was hollowed as a semicircle out of the side of a hill. The quality of its acoustics make it one of the great architectural achievements of the fourth century BC. It is still used each summer, and Maria Callas has performed there.

We drove many miles from the main highway to Dodóni, Greece, to see a large Greek theater with beautiful surroundings, walls and columns from the scattered ruins, and ruins from a Byzantine church. It's all very nice, but it required a difficult drive over the mountain, on steep, twisty roads.

The theater in Taormina, Sicily, Italy, was built by the Greeks in the third century BC. It sets high above the Mar Ionio (Ionian Sea), with the seashore and the smoky tip of Mt. Etna on view just past the columns of the theater stage. Wander through portions of the ruins, then climb around the bleachers to get a better view of the vista. With the Sea far below, smoking Mt. Etna far above, this is an exhilarating site. 

Founded before 600 BC, and lasting around 1,000 years, the city of Delfi, Greece, is high on the side of a hill. Excavation started in 1892, and they had to remove a village built on top of the ruins, then excavate 66 feet of rubble to find old Delfi. Greek theaters are usually sculpted into the side of a hill and offer a spectacular view. From here that view is of the Sea of Olives, olive trees to the horizon.

In Athens, productions of ancient plays, opera, music and dance are held in the Herod Atticus Odeum theatre (161 AD) near the Acropolis, and fragments of the Theatre of Dionysos (600 BC) can be seen on the southern slope of the Acropolis.

The huge Greek theater (24,000 seats, an entrance fee was charged) in Ephesus, Turkey, is part of the most stunning old city ruin we’ve seen. The old building ruins with marble pillars, remain a magnificent city. Ephesus, formed by the Greeks sometime after 1000 BC, later fell into Roman hands. The extensive remains are chiefly from the Roman period.