Roman amphitheatres were elliptical buildings used for public performances and gladiatorial games involving clashes between gladiators and animals. The largest amphitheatres were the Colosseum in Rome, the amphitheatre of Capua, and the Amphitheatre of El Jem. Two important Roman amphitheatres in Apulia, Italy were the amphitheatre of Lecce, built between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD to hold 25,000 spectators, and the amphitheatre of Lucera from the Augustan age that could hold 16,000-18,000 spectators.

1. ROMAN AMPHITHEATRES

2. DEFINITION
The word amphitheater derives from the Greek amfi, αμφί - with two elements -
and theater, θέατρο).
It is an elliptical building used for public performances.
In classical antiquity it was used for gladiatorial games (also called munera) and
for venationes, clashes between gladiators and animals (which included tigers,
lions, bears, crocodiles, rhinos etc.).

3. The three largest Roman amphitheatres in the world in order of size are
the Colosseum, the amphitheater of Capua and the Amphitheatre of El
Jem (Tunisia).

4. ROMAN AMPHITHEATRES IN APULIA
 In Apulia there are two important Roman
amphitheatres:
 Lecce
 Lucera

5. THE ROMAN AMPHITHEATER OF LECCE
 The Roman amphitheater of Lecce was built between the first
and second century A.D. and could hold 25,000 spectators.
 The monument was made ​​partly in the rock and partly built on
arches. There are still a part of the elliptical arena and two
annular corridors.
 The arena was separated from the auditorium by a high wall
that was decorated with a parapet (podium) adorned with
marble reliefs representing fight scenes between men and
animals.

6. THE ROMAN AMPHITHEATER OF LUCERA
 Built in the Augustan age, the Amphitheatre is a monumental testimony of the
Roman Lucera.
 Located in a natural depression, the elliptical building could hold between 16.000
and 18.000 spectators.
 You can enter into the arena through two portals, adorned with Ionic columns,
surmounted by a majestic architrave and a pediment decorated with bas-reliefs.
At the end of the stairs there are the spoliaria, used for the preparation of the
athletes.
 Two secondary entrances give directly access to the arena, bordered by a canal
and the podium. Under the arena there is tunnel that was divided into three
spaces, which were designed to accommodate services, animals and equipment
used for the spectacula.