In Fano the traces of the past never cease to surface and surprise, thus allowing us to recompose the fascinating mapping of the ancient Fanum Fortunae. This is how recent excavations have made it possible to trace the ancient Roman Theater of Fano in the heart of the historic center, near the structures of the nineteenth-century former Filanda and, subsequently in 2021, the left wing of a monumental temple, perhaps that of Fortuna , adding new, precious pieces to the history of the city.
In Fano, research (and discoveries!) never ends. Between 2001 and 2006, archaeological excavations carried out in the heart of the historic center of the city, in the area of the nineteenth-century Filanda Bosoni, brought to light and returned to the city of Fano another important piece of its past: the remains of ancient Roman theater in the city. The date of construction of the theater is not certain, but the inclusion of the monument in the central area of the Roman colony for public use demonstrates the original planning of the theater at the time of the re-foundation of the city by Emperor Augustus. Being within the city walls, the theater underwent a long process of building stratification over the centuries until the Filanda factory was built in the area, buried and forgotten, and subsequently an Enel substation! The remains found relate to two sectors adjacent to the first cavea, the lower part of the steps, portions of the orchestra's floor piano with part of the proedria, the first row of seats, and a probable access to the theatre, as well as a series of parallel wall structures referable to the proscaenium, the pulpitum (stage), the scaenae frons (permanent architectural backdrop) and the valva regia, the central door of the scene. The steps, originally at least thirty, of which today only eight survive, were approximately between 30 and 35 cm high and between 73 and 75 cm deep. The frons scaenae reached a height of at least 10 meters and the capacity of the building was at least 2500-3000 people.
In 2021, further tests inside the oldest building of the former Filanda allowed (perhaps!) a further, extraordinary discovery: a part of the famous Temple of Fortune which gave rise to the city!
