Anfiteatro Campano
Santa Maria Capua Vetere (CE)
FamousHistory & archaeology
The story
Second in size only to the Colosseum, the arena where Spartacus trained still holds the underground corridors from which gladiators and beasts rose toward the light.
Access
€
The story
The Campano Amphitheatre, at Santa Maria Capua Vetere — the ancient Capua —, is by size second only to the Colosseum, which it probably preceded and served as a model for. Capua was the city of the gladiators: here stood the school from which, in 73 BC, the revolt of Spartacus set out. Over the centuries many of its stones were reused, for example in the Castello delle Pietre of Capua.
What to see
There remain the imposing arcaded structure, the arena and above all the underground passages — the corridors and cells beneath the fighting floor, among the most legible in the Roman world. The ticket usually also includes the Mithraeum, with its frescoes, and the Gladiators' Museum.
Tips
Visit the amphitheatre, the Mithraeum and the Gladiators' Museum together: they are part of the same circuit. The Mithraeum opens on request, check on site. Fares and hours on the official site. You are at Santa Maria Capua Vetere, a stone's throw from Capua and its old centre.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Campano Amphitheatre important?
It is the second Roman amphitheatre by size after the Colosseum, in ancient Capua, city of the gladiators from which the revolt of Spartacus set out in 73 BC.
What can you visit at the Campano Amphitheatre?
The arcaded structure, the arena and the underground passages; the ticket usually also includes the Mithraeum and the Gladiators' Museum.
Where is the Campano Amphitheatre?
At Santa Maria Capua Vetere, in the province of Caserta, on the site of ancient Capua.
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