Amphitheatrum Castrense, Roman amphitheatre near Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Rome, Italy
Amphitheatrum Castrense is a Roman amphitheatre in Rome built with brick and decorated with columns and marble elements. The elliptical structure with its layered arches remains clearly visible today, though portions were later integrated into the city's defensive walls.
The amphitheatre was built in the early 3rd century under Emperor Elagabalus as part of an imperial palace complex that also included a circus. Within the same century, it was incorporated into Rome's major defensive walls and lost its original function.
The structure once served as an entertainment venue for imperial games but later became part of Rome's defensive system when incorporated into the city walls. You can still see how its architectural elements were repurposed as part of the fortification today.
The site is only open on specific days and requires advance reservation through the proper channels. Wear comfortable shoes since portions of the ground are uneven and most of the area is exposed to the elements.
A covered corridor once connected this amphitheatre to a nearby circus, and traces of this tunnel still survive beneath the adjacent church. This reveals how the imperial palace complex was carefully planned with its various structures linked together.
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