Description of the attraction
Antiquarium Ventimiglia is an archaeological museum located in the center of the ancient Roman city of Albintimilium, a few kilometers from modern Ventimiglia. The museum is located below the amphitheater, from which Corso Jenova street starts. The building was originally known as an educational institute. During the Second World War, it was partially destroyed and restored only in 1980 at the initiative of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage. At the same time, it was converted into a didactic platform for acquaintance with the archaeological artifacts of the Albintimilium.
Today in the Antiquarium you can see the main monuments of antiquity - the Porta di Provenza gate, erected in the 1st century BC, the amphitheater itself, built between the 2nd and 3rd centuries, and Thermes, built in the second half of the 1st century at the southeast corner of the theater. In addition, various fragments of residential and public buildings are on display for the public.
The amphitheater was located in the western part of the ancient Ligurian city. It had a semicircular shape and was mostly lined with white limestone brought from the territory of present-day Monaco. The entrance to the theater was through the western gate, which has survived to this day in an almost intact form. To the side was the Porta di Provenza gate, leading to the Via Giulia Augusta, and directly opposite the theater were the baths with a mosaic floor. The theater could accommodate up to 5 thousand spectators, and mainly comedies, dance performances and pantomimes were staged on its stage. In the 4th century, the building was completely abandoned.
