Anfiteatro Romano di Lecce (Roman Amphitheater of Lecce), Lecce (must see)
Right in the beating heart of Lecce鈥檚 Saint Orontius Square, you鈥檒l stumble upon what looks like a half-hidden time capsule: the Roman Amphitheater of Lupiae. Imagine dusting off your morning espresso only to find you鈥檙e standing atop the ancient stage for gladiator brawls and lion-versus-man spectacles. Unearthed quite by accident in 1906鈥攚hen builders digging for a bank vault hit marble instead of cashier鈥檚 drawers鈥攖his arena most likely dates from Emperor Augustus鈥檚 golden era, with Hadrian later tossing in a stately portico for good measure.
By the 11th century, the amphitheater鈥檚 glory days had faded, and locals liberally repurposed its stones for city walls鈥攁nd rumor has it, even parts of Lecce stone ended up in the Cathedral of Otranto. By the 15th century, its remaining above-ground bits were folded into the foundations of the Island of the Governor complex. Yet when stripped back to its original oval鈥�335 feet by 269 feet鈥攜ou can still picture 15,000 cheering fans packed into tiered seating, peering down through 24 of the original 68 arches.
Today, the Amphitheater of Lupiae enjoys a peaceful second act. Its sun-baked limestone steps and radial tunnels now host concerts, theater, and festivals rather than chariot races. Ever since its designation as an Italian 鈥淣ational Monument鈥� on February 1, 1906, this slice of antiquity has proven that sometimes the best way to experience Rome is not in Rome at all鈥攂ut right here in Lecce, where ancient stones and modern stage lights share the spotlight.
By the 11th century, the amphitheater鈥檚 glory days had faded, and locals liberally repurposed its stones for city walls鈥攁nd rumor has it, even parts of Lecce stone ended up in the Cathedral of Otranto. By the 15th century, its remaining above-ground bits were folded into the foundations of the Island of the Governor complex. Yet when stripped back to its original oval鈥�335 feet by 269 feet鈥攜ou can still picture 15,000 cheering fans packed into tiered seating, peering down through 24 of the original 68 arches.
Today, the Amphitheater of Lupiae enjoys a peaceful second act. Its sun-baked limestone steps and radial tunnels now host concerts, theater, and festivals rather than chariot races. Ever since its designation as an Italian 鈥淣ational Monument鈥� on February 1, 1906, this slice of antiquity has proven that sometimes the best way to experience Rome is not in Rome at all鈥攂ut right here in Lecce, where ancient stones and modern stage lights share the spotlight.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Lecce. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Anfiteatro Romano di Lecce (Roman Amphitheater of Lecce) on Map
Sight Name: Anfiteatro Romano di Lecce (Roman Amphitheater of Lecce)
Sight Location: Lecce, Italy (See walking tours in Lecce)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Lecce, Italy (See walking tours in Lecce)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Lecce, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Lecce
Creating your own self-guided walk in Lecce is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Lecce Introduction Walking Tour
German historian Ferdinand Gregorovius called Lecce 鈥渢he Florence of the Baroque era.鈥� The city traces its beginnings around the time of the Trojan Wars, which took place around the 11th century BC. However, it first steps firmly into the record in the 3rd century BC as Lupiae under Roman control. The name is thought to come from lupus, the Latin word for wolf, recalling the animals that once... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Lecce's Baroque Churches Walking Tour
Lecce isn鈥檛 shy about its reputation鈥攊t鈥檚 often called the 鈥淐apital of Baroque,鈥� and one stroll through the old town makes it clear why. This southern Italian city turned its soft local limestone, Lecce stone, into an architect鈥檚 playground. Elaborate fa莽ades, swirling details, and sculptures bursting from the walls made the 17th century feel like one long design competition. And with... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles