Roman Amphitheatre of Sutri: An Ancient Entertainment Venue in Lazio, Italy

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.archeoares.it

Country: Italy

Civilization: Roman

Remains: Entertainment

History

The Roman Amphitheatre of Sutri is located in the town of Sutri, within the province of Viterbo, in the Lazio region of central Italy. The Romans constructed the amphitheatre between the late 2nd century BCE and the 1st century BCE.

In the 19th century, between 1835 and 1838, the amphitheatre was rediscovered and excavated by the local population. This rediscovery brought attention to the site as an important archaeological monument.

Remains

The Roman Amphitheatre of Sutri is an elliptical structure built primarily from tuff stone, a volcanic rock widely used in Roman construction. Its design includes three tiers of seating, known as gradinate, which could accommodate more than 9,000 spectators. This seating arrangement reflects the amphitheatre’s role as a large public entertainment venue.

Originally, the amphitheatre featured a decorative upper cornice adorned with niches, statues, and columns. These ornamental elements are now only partially preserved, but they indicate the building’s once elaborate appearance. The overall shape and seating layout remain clearly visible, allowing visitors to understand the amphitheatre’s scale and function.