Amphitheatre of Pompeii

The Amphitheatre of Pompeii is a Roman arena in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy, located at the southeastern edge of the archaeological site. The oval stone structure has an arena that sits below ground level, with tiered seating rising around the central playing field on multiple levels.

The arena was built around 70 BC by magistrates Caius Quinctius Valgus and Marcus Porcius and is the earliest known Roman stone structure of this type. It remained buried under volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD until excavations began in the 18th century.

This arena hosted gladiator fights and games where the entire community gathered, with separate sections for different social groups. The design reflects how entertainment was organized in ancient Rome, with strict divisions that placed the wealthy close to the action and others farther away.

The site is fully open-air and requires walking, so comfortable footwear is helpful for navigating the staircases and passageways. A visit typically takes about half an hour, depending on how long you spend exploring the tiers and the arena floor.

The arena was the site of a famous riot in 59 AD, when fans from Pompeii and the neighboring city of Nuceria clashed, leading to a years-long ban on games. The incident was documented by ancient writers and shows how intense rivalry between cities could become during such events.

Location: Pompei

Official opening: 76

Architectural style: ancient Roman architecture

Part of: Pompeii Regio II Insula 6, Pompeii

Address: Scavi archeologici di Pompei - Regio II - Insula 6 - 1

GPS coordinates: 40.75126,14.49497

Latest update: December 12, 2025 18:25