Santa Maria Capua Vetere Gladiator Museum

The Santa Maria Capua Vetere Gladiator Museum sits beside one of the largest Roman amphitheaters and displays weapons, armor, and architectural pieces unearthed from the site. The collection includes fragments that once decorated the amphitheater arches, along with reconstructed models showing how the tiered seating was arranged.

The amphitheater was built during Emperor Augustus' reign and became a center for gladiator training and combat throughout the height of the Roman Empire. The complex remained in use for centuries, leaving behind the archaeological remains now displayed in the museum's collection.

Gladiatorial combat held a central place in ancient society, drawing crowds from all social levels to the amphitheater. The exhibits reveal the diverse fighter types and their varying positions within Roman life.

The museum is most easily reached on foot from the town center and allows for a visit lasting a few hours or half a day. A walk to the adjacent amphitheater complex afterward provides helpful context for what the museum displays.

The collection preserves rare evidence of women who participated as gladiators in combat, an aspect of Roman history often overlooked. These details reveal that the amphitheater employed fighters beyond those typically imagined.

Location: Santa Maria Capua Vetere

Address: Piazza Ottobre I

Website: http://cir.campania.beniculturali.it/luoghi-della-cultura/museo-dei-gladiatori

GPS coordinates: 41.08514,14.25089

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:06