Archeological Museum at the Roman Theatre

The theatre was built on the hills of St. Peter in the middle of Augustinian age. It was a building of spectacular grandeur which spread from the left bank of the Adige to the top of the hill and was complementing the Roman town planning system on the right bank of the river.

Over centuries many civil and religious buildings were erected on the theatre’s ruins; in 1834 a rich Veronese merchant, Andrea Monga, bought at this own expense some of the houses that were built in the area of the theatre in order to begin archaeological excavations, which brought to light ruins of the Roman building.

The theatre respects the architectural canons of this building type: the seating area for spectators, divided in two sections and vertically in wedges; the semi-circular orchestra at the foot of the staircase; the stage, for the actors. During the summer the theatre hosts numerous theatrical and musical events (Estate Teatrale Veronese).

The Museum is located within a convent built in the 15th century by Jesuates who belonged to a congregation founded by Giovanni Colombini from Siena in 1367. The name “Jesuates” originates from their frequent invoking the name of Jesus, whose monogram also appears on some of the doors of the convent.
They were piously devoted to the care of the sick through the production and free distribution of medicines; but they also dealt with the manufacture of perfumes and liquors for sale. A good amount of water was necessary to perform these activities and the Jesuates had found that St Peter Hill was a place rich in this element.

Sacred inscriptions and tombs, mosaics, sculptures and everyday utensils from Verona and its province are exhibited there.

From the funicular you can have an enchanting view on the Roman Theatre. The funicular allows you to reach  Castel S. Pietro easily, then you can descend the stairs alongside the Roman Theatre.