Roman Amphitheatre of Catania

Catania, Italy

The amphitheatre of Catania is the most complicated and largest of all the amphitheatres in Sicily. It was built in the Roman Imperial period, probably in the 2nd century AD, on the northern edge of the ancient city at the base of the Montevergine hill. Only a small section of the structure is now visible, below ground level, to the north of Piazza Stesicoro.

The external diameter was 125 x 105 metres, while the external circumference was 309 metres. From the theatre's dimensions it can be calculated to have held 15,000 spectators and almost double that number with the addition of wooden bleachers for standing spectators. According to an uncertain and unconfirmed tradition, it was intended that naumachiae (staged sea battles) take place in the amphitheatre, using the ancient aqueduct to fill the arena with water.

According to Cassiodorus, in the 5th century, Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoths, allowed the inhabitants of the city to spoliate the theatre for building material for the construction of stone buildings.

In the 13th century, according to tradition, the amphitheatre's vomitoria (entranceways) were used by the Angevins to enter the city during the Sicilian Vespers. In the following century, the entrances were walled up and the ruins were incorporated into the Aragonese fortifications (1302).

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Founded: 2nd century AD
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Italy

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

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User Reviews

Iza Skoczek (7 months ago)
We visited the amphitheater in late September, there was a tour happening whilst we were there so we needed to wait a bit to access information boards, overall it is a really interesting place to visit in Catania, you can go inside this historical site that was once hidden underneath the ground
Fernando Pacheco (8 months ago)
Well-preserved structure of the amphitheater seen beneath the ground. Nice to see
Felipe Paz (11 months ago)
It was a cloudy day for me. I recommend check it out the weather because with sunlight the place should be even greater. The views incredible.
VLAJKO PETROVIĆ (11 months ago)
Great monument in the heart of the city of Catania... It's big building... Its build in big Roman empire time... I think it's in very good condition, because they sometimes close it for people because of restauration... Even it is close you can see everything from outside... You can always see some citizen or tourists around who taking pictures... One of the few things you must see if you in Catania or close and take some nice pictures and videos... All recommendations for visit
Jennifer Smith (13 months ago)
Closed to tourists as least when I visited (and opening hours were on a placard on the front). You can take photos though of the ruins and I don’t see the need to walk around around them anyway especially as so much is still buried underground. It’s interesting the ruins used to be a particularly large amphitheater. Would never guess looking at it today!
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