Photos

This photo is from my stroll along the corridors of Lecce’s Amphitheatre. In its time, the amphitheatre was able to host more than 25,000 people. It is now half-buried because other important monuments were built above it over the centuries.

Lecce’s Amphitheatre was the most important Roman monument of the city. Built under Hadrian's empire, it dates back to the 2nd century when Lecce thrived under its Roman name of “Lupiae” (and was connected to the Hadrian Port, the current San Cataldo).

The amphitheatre has benefited from recent renovation which - during the last 10 years - has seen major restoration completed of the lower level pens that housed wild animals, gladiators and other forms of Roman-era spectacle. What you see here is just a fraction of what actually stood on this spot. Infact, the Amphitheatre held upwards of 25,000 patrons, so were talking about 5 levels in height and several hundred meters in circumference. The size and scope of the Amphitheatre dwarfed the surrounding area. Walking around to the far side of the amphitheatre, I can still see its main entrance and the long corridors that led to the holding area blow. However it had areas for all levels of society: from the very rich to the very poor.

The amphitheatre holds a number of artifacts and tourists would do well to schedule their time accordingly so they can descend inside. You can find a number of columns, plaques and statues, many which reflect the popular contests of the day.

Hope you like it.