Amphitheatrum Castrense Archaeological Site

The Amphitheatrum Castrense is a small Roman amphitheatre located in Rome and notable for being incorporated into the later Aurelian defensive walls. It dates to the Roman imperial period and survives as a partly ruined masonry structure within the urban fabric.

The structure presents a modest elliptical plan rather than the large arenas of central Rome, and its masonry and vaulted substructures are visible from street level. The site is of interest for those studying how Roman buildings were reused within later fortifications rather than for large-scale spectacle.

Built during the imperial era, the amphitheatre was later enclosed when the Aurelian Walls were constructed across Rome’s suburbs in the late third century AD, which helped preserve parts of the structure by making it part of the defensive line. Over the centuries it has been altered and partially repurposed as the surrounding city grew.

It stands within the eastern portion of Rome inside the circuit of the ancient walls, in the general area southeast of the city centre and near the route of the ancient roads leaving the capital.

• Viewing tips: Remains are best viewed from the exterior where the amphitheatre is integrated into the Aurelian Walls; limited interior access is sometimes offered during guided visits.

From the Colosseum, a 25-30 minute walk south-west along Via di San Gregorio and the Appian Way approaches or take bus 118 toward Porta San Giovanni and alight near Via di Nola. The site is visible from the outside of the Aurelian Walls; there is no regular dedicated visitor center.

• Visit late afternoon to catch the low sun on the brickwork - it brings out mortar joints and the tufa core in the arches.
• Combine a walk along the Aurelian Walls and the nearby Baths of Caracalla; the amphitheatre is visible from outside and there is no separate ticket.
• Look for the faint carved block marks and medieval graffiti on the lower courses; these small details tell the building's afterlife.