Antonino Pio stadium

Pozzuoli’s city dwellers often says that in this town, if you only move a stone, you’ll find antiques that only waits to be discovered. Actually that’s how the Antonino Pio stadium was found. It has been opened to the visitors in October 2008 after 2000 years. This archaeological site was covered from soil and scrubs. The emperor Antonino Pio wanted this stadium to be built because he wanted to organize Olympic games in Pozzuoli, in the same town where his predecessor was buried. These Olympic games, called “Eusebia” took place in this stadium, which is 300 meters long and 70 meters wide. The structure previsioned two entrances: one to the spectators and one to the athletes, and like all the Roman constructions dedicated to the games, the Antonino Pio stadium was divided into three parts, one for every social class of the Roman society.
During the centuries the Stadium was altered and its use has been sometimes partial and sometimes different from its original purpose. After the eruption of the Monte Nuovo the site was completely covered by debris. Nowadays this Stadium it’s divided in two parts because in the middle of it was built the highway Domitiana in 1932, which cut it without any respect… as Pearl Jam sing: “It’s evolution, baby!”

Where: Via Campi Flegrei How to get here: Bus N° 152 e M1