Piazza dell'Anfiteatro

Piazza dell’Anfiteatro in Lucca is an oval urban square formed on the remains of a Roman amphitheatre; its current shape and building layout follow the arena’s original footprint from the early imperial period. The piazza is enclosed by a continuous ring of buildings whose lower walls sit on the amphitheatre’s ancient structure.

Today the oval square functions as a pedestrian plaza lined with cafes and shops that occupy medieval and later buildings adapted to the amphitheatre’s curve. The visible layout and repeating curve of terraces and facades make the site’s Roman origins apparent in plan and streetscape.

The piazza lies in the historic centre of Lucca within the city’s medieval walls and is easily reached on foot from other central landmarks and streets.

• Roman origins: The piazza's distinctive oval shape follows the footprint of an ancient Roman amphitheatre dating to the early imperial period.
• Visitor use: The square is a compact pedestrian space at the heart of Lucca's historic centre and is lined with restaurants and cafes built on the amphitheatre's stone substructures.

What to See #

• Oval piazza (former amphitheatre): The oval public square that preserves the footprint of a 1st- or 2nd-century Roman amphitheatre, with buildings and arcades built on the ancient arena's foundations.
• Surrounding buildings and amenities: Surrounding cafes, shops and residential buildings that follow the curve of the original amphitheatre walls and form the contemporary public space.