Roman amphitheatre of Florence

The Roman amphitheatre of Florence is an elliptical structure extending hundreds of meters across and distributed between modern street intersections. Today only remnants of the original walls remain visible, integrated into the fabric of medieval buildings.

The amphitheatre was built in the early 2nd century and lay outside the city walls of that era. During the Middle Ages the site was built over and its walls were incorporated into new structures.

The site hosted public spectacles and gladiator contests where crowds gathered to witness entertainment together. This type of gathering space shaped the social fabric of the Roman city.

The remains spread across the historic center and can be discovered on a walk by following Via De' Bentaccordi and nearby streets. The best place to understand the true scale of the structure is the Museo di Firenze com'era, where a reconstruction model is on display.

Archaeological research has revealed that the arena was once one of the largest Roman structures north of Rome. Many visitors do not notice how much of the original layout still persists in the modern street plan of the neighborhood.