Conservation, transformation, and enhancement of classical theatres and amphitheatres

The architectural heritage of the Classical age, present both in Italy and in the other Mediterranean countries, has been subject over the centuries to different phenomena that have caused either its abandonment or the continuation of its use, its transformation or the loss of its integrity. These processes have ensured the survival of these buildings through a continuous integration in urban and cultural activities. The paper presents the results of research aimed at the conservation of ancient theatres and amphitheatres, understood in their multi-layeredness, suggesting strategies for their knowledge and compatible enhancement from both an architectural and a landscape point of view.