Piazza Dell'Anfiteatro on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
Piazza dell'Anfiteatro is a public square in the northeast quadrant of the walled center of
The base of the former amphitheater (dating back to the 1st or 2nd century BC) is now some 3 meters below the ground surface.
At its peak about 18 rows of amphitheater seats held some 10,000 spectators.
Now at its place is an urban square (piazza) surrounded by private residences built using the remaining structures of the Amphitheatre, which are occupied by several outdoor cafes. This piazza was created in 1830 by the architect Lorenzo Nottolini by razing some of the buildings inside the oval. It was originally refurbished to be a marketplace.Comune of Lucca
, entry on amphitheater.
Lucca
Città di Lucca ( ; ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the Serchio River, in a fertile plain near the Ligurian Sea. The city has a population of about 89,000, while its Province of Lucca, province has a population of 383,9 ...
, region of Tuscany
Tuscany ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of 3,660,834 inhabitants as of 2025. The capital city is Florence.
Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its in ...
, Italy. The ring of buildings surrounding the square follows the elliptical shape of the former second century Roman amphitheater of Lucca. The square can be reached through four gateways located at the four vertices of the ellipse. A cross
A cross is a religious symbol consisting of two Intersection (set theory), intersecting Line (geometry), lines, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of t ...
is carved into the central tile of the square with the arms pointing to the four gateways of the square.
History
The base of the former amphitheater (dating back to the 1st or 2nd century BC) is now some 3 meters below the ground surface.
At its peak about 18 rows of amphitheater seats held some 10,000 spectators.
Now at its place is an urban square (piazza) surrounded by private residences built using the remaining structures of the Amphitheatre, which are occupied by several outdoor cafes. This piazza was created in 1830 by the architect Lorenzo Nottolini by razing some of the buildings inside the oval. It was originally refurbished to be a marketplace., entry on amphitheater.
See also
*List of Roman amphitheatres
The remains of at least 230 Roman amphitheatres have been found widely scattered around the area of the Roman Empire. These are large, circular or oval open-air venues with raised 360 degree seating and not to be confused with the more common ...
References
{{coord, 43.8454, N, 10.5063, E, source:wikidata, display=title Piazzas in Lucca Roman amphitheatres in Italy Roman sites of Tuscany