The Roman Amphitheatre in Lecce

This is the most relevant testimonial of the Roman age, it was built in the II century AC to entertain the soldiers settled in the surroundings of the city. The monument was completely buried under rubble because of earthquakes, and only after the second world war, thanks to some excavations, it was brought back to the surface. The part of the monument which is visible today it’s just one third of its original size, the rest is probably still under the central Sant’Oronzo square. The amphitheatre structure was with tuff pillars surmounted by arcades. Some statues were found in this structure, a statue of Athena which deserve particular attention (it’s kept at the Castromediano’s Museum) and some marble relieves that were on the rail that divided the two flights of steps. The scenes represented on these marble relives are an important document of the spectacles that were represented in the amphitheatre: hunting and wrestle between hunters and animals.

Informations to visit the Roman Amphiteatre of Lecce:
When: in April, May and September from 10,30 am to 12 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm. From June to August from 6 pm to 8 pm. (During the closing period is possible to visit the amphitheatre under reservation)