The Roman Theatre of Aosta has a unique layout, with the semicircular terraces of the cavea and the stage enclosed in a rectangular perimeter wall: a characteristic making it similar to the theatres of Luni and Turin, as well as the Odeon of Pompeii. This feature led to the hypothesis that there may originally have been a roof: an enticing idea, albeit difficult to prove due to the enormous size of the wooden beams which would have been required (37 metres), together with the lack of precise knowledge of how they would have been put up. Alternatively, it is conjectured that there may have been light coverings such as velaria. The southern façade, which remains at its original height of over 60 metres, consisted of a series of arches and three levels of openings of varying widths layered on top of one another, marked by ten imposing buttresses which also featured on the other three sides of the edifice. Inside the façade wall the cavea opened out, consisting of thee levels of terraces for spectators; the orchestra, initially reserved for the choir and musicians and subsequently occupied by the most eminent citizens, was situated in the centre. The northern side was occupied by the areas where the actual theatre took place, namely: pulpitum, or rather the front of the stage, often characterised by recesses and decorated, proscænium, the true stage, and scænæ frons, which provided the monumental theatrical scenographic backdrop. Behind the pulptium was the aulæum (the curtain), raised by a series of counterweights hidden under the stage. Additionally, behind the stage a series of service areas opened up, as well as dressing rooms for the actors and storage rooms. The walls were built using large parallelepiped blocks of puddingstone (a conglomerate of fluvial origin, widely used in public architectural projects in Aosta), shaped into rough highly protruding ashlars, and blocks of travertine to highlight openings and breeches.

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DISCOVER THE CASTLES, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND MUSEUMS OF THE AOSTA VALLEY
CHOOSE YOUR DESTINATION
DISCOVER THE CASTLES, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND MUSEUMS OF THE AOSTA VALLEY
CHOOSE YOUR DESTINATION

DISCOVER THE CASTLES, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND MUSEUMS OF THE AOSTA VALLEY
CHOOSE YOUR DESTINATION

CHÂTEAU DE FÉNIS

CHÂTEAU DE FÉNIS 6

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