The Roman amphitheatre of Lucera stands on the eastern outskirts of the town and is among the oldest in southern Italy, older than the Colosseum. It was built in the first century in honour of Octavian Augustus, under whom Luceria had its period of greatest splendour. It was erected at his own expense, on land he owned and making use of a natural hollow, by the Lucera magistrate Marcus Vecilius Campus: this is attested by the inscription on the architraves of the entrance portals. It was probably damaged in 663, when Emperor Constans II conquered the town; abandoned, it served as a stone quarry and little by little was buried.
What to see
The plan is elliptical, almost 127 metres long, and it is estimated that it could hold between sixteen and eighteen thousand spectators. On the major axis are the two portals, framed by Ionic columns, one towards the town and the other towards Foggia: on the architrave you can read the inscription that recalls Marcus Vecilius Campus. Two other entrances opened on the minor axis.
The arena is bounded by a channel for collecting water and by a podium in which four entrances open. Beneath it is dug a long service gallery, into which the rainwater also flowed. Here the games of the amphitheatre were held: fights between animals, executions of the condemned and combats between gladiators.
Visiting
The first significant remains came to light on 13 October 1932; excavations and restorations were directed first by Quintino Quagliati and then by Renato Bartoccini. Between 2006 and 2009 the area underwent a new recovery project. Times and arrangements for entry should be checked with the town council of Lucera.
Our editors' tip
The amphitheatre has gone back to hosting performances: with the latest restoration, stepped stands for about a thousand seats were built in the western curved sector, intended for musical, theatrical and cultural events. In summer a festival is held here, and it is worth looking at the calendar before going.
