The Roman amphitheatre of Lecce dates back to the second century AD and the time of Emperor Hadrian's rule. Featuring an elliptical layout, it's partly buried and partly supported by arcades resting on tuff columns. The amphitheatre of ancient Lupiae lies on what once were the eastern outskirts of the Roman city of Augustan Age, and was capable of seating a max. of 14.000 spectators, arranged in two tiers of seats, of which only the lower one still remains.
Particularly interesting are the fragments of friezes unearthed during excavations and the Latin inscriptions, which are to be found in the gallery dug into the rocks surrounding the arena.
Recommended to the visitor, are the groups of historiated capitals and some bas-reliefs depicting scenes of venationes. In the nearby of the amphitheatre, today an elegant culture venue hosting shows and concerts, there's a pre-Roman necropolis, where Messapian inscriptions have been found.
References:The Château du Lude is one of the many great châteaux of the Loire Valley in France. Le Lude is the most northerly château of the Loire Valley and one of the last important historic castles in France, still inhabited by the same family for the last 260 years. The château is testimony to four centuries of French architecture, as a stronghold transformed into an elegant house during the Renaissance and the 18th century. The monument is located in the valley of Le Loir. Its gardens have evolved throughout the centuries.