Flavian Amphitheater of Pozzuoli, photos and history

Flavian Amphitheater of Pozzuoli, the major arena of Puteoli

pozzuoli italy amphitheatre

In Pozzuoli (Italy), the amphitheatre

The Flavian amphitheater of Pozzuoli is an arena built in the second half of the 1st century. A.D. because the smaller one did not have enough capacity for the spectators. In fact, in that time the Roman colony of Puteoli had a strong population growth and not everyone was able to get a place in the stands.

Flavian amphitheater of Pozzuoli: capacity and size.

flavian amphitheatre pozzuoli

Flavian Amphitheatre of pozzuoli

The amphitheater of Pozzuoli is the third largest amphitheater in Italy after the Colosseum and that of Capua. It is 149 meters long and 116 meters wide and at that time it could accommodate up to 40,000 people.
The entire structure was built on 3 levels: Arena, terraces and underground.

The undergrounds of the Flavian Amphitheater of Pozzuoli

sotterranei anfiteatro pozzuoli

I sotterranei dell' Anfiteatro Flavio di Pozzuoli

The Flavian amphitheater of Pozzuoli was equipped with the underground, a place where wild animalswas were locked in their cages. But this area of amphitheater was also the place where the gladiators were waiting their moment to fight and prove their abilities on the arena.

The arena of the Flavian amphitheater of Pozzuoli.

pozzuoli italie arene

In Pozzuoli (Italie), the arene of the amphitheatre

The arena of the amphitheater of Pozzuoli was that place where aggressive behaviour of the animals and the skills of the gladiators entertained the Roman aristocracy of the ancient city of Puteoli who were looking at the fighting from the top of the stands.

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Amphitheater of Pozzuoli, tickets prices and location

How much does the ticket of the amphitheater cost?

TICKET: € 4
REDUCED TICKET: € 2 (citizens of the European Union between 18 and 25 years)
FLEGREO CIRCUIT CUMULATIVE TICKET: € 8
REDUCED FLEGREO CIRCUIT CUMULATIVE TICKET: € 4 (citizens of the European Union between 18 and 25 years)
Free for under 18 yeasr old

Reservation required click here

The Circuito Flegreo ticket is valid two days and allows you to visit: 
- the archaeological park of the Roman baths at Baiae

- the Aragonese castle of Baia (with the archaeological museum of the Phlegraean fields)

- the Flavian amphitheater

- the archaeological excavations of Cumae

- tel: +39 081 526 6007

How to reach the Pozzuoli Metro station car park by car

The parcking is at 300 meters distance from the amphitheater, please click on the photo to open the navigator.

parcheggio anfiteatro pozzuoli

How to reach the Pozzuoli amphitheater by public transport:

From Naples by Train: Take the metro "line 2" towards Pozzuoli and get off exactly at Pozzuoli city. To reach the amphitheater it takes 3 minutes walk. So leaving the station, turn on the right and walk untill the mainroad (Via Domitiana), turn on the right and pass under the bridge, keep walking for another 200 meters to reach the entrance of the Amphitheater.

360 tour in the arena of the Flavian Amphitheater of Pozzuoli
360 photo of the gardens, behind the amphitheater
360 photo of the underground of the Flavian Amphitheater of Pozzuoli

The Minor amphitheater in Pozzuoli

At that time there was already another amphitheater in Pozzuoli and it was built in late republican age (around the first years of I Century A.D.).
There was no subterranean and it was smaller than the who know and we can visit today. It was 130 meters long and 95 meters wide and it could hold up to 20,000 spectators.
At that time in the city of Puteoli there was a fast population growth. There was a need a new bigger amphitheater to contain all those spectators. For a few year both of them were operating together.
It was located just at 100 meters distance from the other amphitheater. To know the exact location, you need to exit from the Pozzuoli metro station and get the main road, then the minor amphitheater was over that wall in front of you.
When the Rome-Naples railway line was built, the tracks have split the minor amphitheater in two parts.

The minor amphitheater of Pozzuoli (in the red circle). Photo source Google map.
The Flavian amphitheater of Pozzuoli
The remains of the Flavian Amphitheater
The Flavian amphitheater of Pozzuoli
The archaeological ruins of the amphitheater of Pozzuoli.
The Pozzuoli Amphitheater seen from above. Photo source Google map
The entrance to the arena

The Flavian amphitheater of Pozzuoli and the persecution of Christians.

During the persecutions of the Christians by the Emperor Diocletian in 305 AD / CE Gennaro (now San Gennaro patron of the city of Naples), Festus, Desiderio and Sossio were martyred. The emperor decided to let them torn to pieces by animals in the arena of the amphitheater. The martyrdom was suspended, but the reason is unknown.
A legend says that a miracle of Gennaro (San Gennaro) saved the martyrs: the animals, instead of tearing them to pieces, knelt at the saint's feet. But all this was not enough to same them becasue the execution was moved to the day afert and to the top of Solfatara the Vulcan. During the execution another martyr, Procolo (now the patron saint of Pozzuoli), was also killed.

The arena of the Flavian Amphitheater of Pozzuoli
The exit to the arena
Roman epigraph
The stands of the amphitheater of Pozzuoli.
The vegetation covering the remains of the garden of Pozzuoli amphitheater.
The ruins of the rear part of the amphitheater.
The arches of the Amphitheater of Pozzuoli
Other columns and arches of the walls of the amphitheater of Pozzuoli
The Underground of the Flavian Amphitheater of Pozzuoli
Underground of Pozzuoli Amphitheater
The Underground of the Flavian Amphitheater of Pozzuoli
Underground of Pozzuoli Amphitheater
Subsol of Pozzuoli Amphitheater
Subsol of the Flavian Amphitheater of Pozzuoli
Subsol of Pozzuoli Amphitheater

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