Beneath this very ground, lie the whispers of ancient Rome. Whispers that tell tales of roaring crowds, clashing blades and the thrill of victory at the Ex anfiteatro romano di Firenze. Though hidden beneath centuries of Florentine history, the spirit of this arena echoes in the very streets we walk on today. Built between 124 and 130 AD, the Ex anfiteatro romano di Firenze was a marvel of Roman engineering. Imagine an elliptical giant, its walls encompassing an area the size of a city block. This arena wasn’t as massive as the Colosseum in Rome, but at 120 meters across it could still host nearly 20,000 spectators. The roar of the crowd must have been deafening during the gladiatorial combats and wild animal hunts. Today, the physical structure of the Ex anfiteatro romano di Firenze is lost to time, swallowed by the city’s growth. However, the phantom of this magnificent arena still lingers in the curved streets that snake through this part of Florence. Look closely at the street names. Via Torta, meaning “twisted street,” traces the curve of the arena’s perimeter. Via del Parlascio derives from the Greek word “perielasis,” meaning “to walk around,” hinting at the arena’s circular form. While the passage of time has rendered the Ex anfiteatro romano di Firenze mostly invisible, its memory persists. Embedded in the fabric of Florence, it serves as a silent reminder of the city’s rich and layered past.
Santa Lucia alla Castellina
“A sanctuary of art and faith””. You might say that about many places, but here at Santa Lucia alla Castellina,