Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, square in the city of Lucca, built on the remains of the ancient Roman amphitheater (2nd century AD), which determined its closed elliptical shape
Piazza dell'Anfiteatro is an oval square in the center of Lucca, built directly over the remains of a Roman amphitheater. The surrounding multi-story buildings follow the curved outline of the ancient structure and form a continuous ring, accessible through four arched passageways.
The amphitheater was built in the 1st century AD under Emperor Claudius and was one of the largest structures in the region at the time. During the Middle Ages its walls were absorbed into housing and fortifications, and it was only in the 19th century that architect Lorenzo Nottolini cleared the interior to create the open square seen today.
The oval shape of the square comes directly from the Roman structure below, and this geometry is still visible in the curved facades of the surrounding buildings. Stepping through one of the four arched entrances gives the impression of entering an enclosed world, separate from the rest of the city.
The square is reached on foot through one of the four arched entrances, and the surrounding streets are too narrow for vehicles. A morning visit is a good choice, as the market stalls are set up early and the space fills gradually through the day.
A cross is set into the paving at the very center of the square, marking the point directly above the middle of the ancient amphitheater below. Most visitors walk over it without noticing, even though it quietly connects the four axes of the original Roman structure.
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