Roman Amphitheatre of Rimini, Roman amphitheatre in Rimini, Italy

The Roman Amphitheatre of Rimini is an elliptical structure measuring 117.7 by 88 metres, with its long axis running northeast to southwest. Four concentric rings of stone and brick, 21.8 metres thick in total, once held about 10,000 spectators; the arena itself measured 76.4 by 47.4 metres. Two main entrances at the narrowest points of the ellipse led into corridors and stairways serving the tiers of seating.

The amphitheatre was built in the 2nd century AD, when Rimini, then known as Ariminum, was a key stop on the main Roman roads. Several centuries later, its walls were absorbed into the city's defensive system, changing its role entirely.

The name Ariminum survives in Rimini, and the amphitheatre's arena, 76.40 by 47.40 metres, was almost the size of the Colosseum's. Since the 1960s the visible section has hosted performances and events, giving residents and visitors an alternative to the beach or the discotheque.

The site is in the center of Rimini and easy to reach on foot from other points of interest in the city. As it is an open-air excavation, comfortable shoes are a good idea since the ground can be uneven in places.

Although the structure was never fully torn down, large portions of it were built over by houses across the centuries, so the visible sections today represent only a fraction of the original footprint. In some spots, you can still spot the old arches sitting directly beneath or beside more recent building facades.