Anfiteatro romano di Lecce
The Roman amphitheatre brought to light in the heart of Lecce, in Piazza Sant’Oronzo, visible for about a third of its structure.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Roman amphitheatre of Lecce is in the centre of the city, in Piazza Sant’Oronzo, and was discovered at the beginning of the 20th century during the construction of a Banca d’Italia building. Excavations, begun almost immediately on the initiative of the archaeologist Cosimo De Giorgi, continued with interruptions until 1940.
The building was elliptical, about 102 × 82 metres, and was partly carved into the local limestone, with the upper walls in masonry and concrete. Access to the four sectors was from entrances aligned with the main axes. Scholars debate whether the construction dates from the Augustan age or from the Trajanic-Hadrianic period. Today only about a third of the structure is visible, because the rest lies beneath the neighbouring buildings and the church of Santa Maria della Grazia; among the surviving elements are carved parts in the lower ambulatory.
Since December 2014 the monument has been managed by the Ministry of Culture, now through the Regional Directorate of the National Museums of Puglia. A third restoration lot, financed by the PNRR with €1.5 million, was completed in July 2025 with the recovery of five arches and blocks of the piers. For access, a ticket office in glass and steel was built on a new entrance square, together with toilets on the lower level and a ramp route for people with mobility impairments.
Highlights
- Ellipse of about 102 × 82 metres in the heart of Lecce
- Arches and piers recovered in the 2025 restoration
- Carved elements in the lower ambulatory
- New access from Piazza Sant’Oronzo with a ramp route
- Operated by
- Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Puglia (Ministero della Cultura)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 1,823
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2young people aged 18 to 25 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under-18s, in line with the rules of state museums. |
Free admission: Free admission on the first Sunday of the month (“Domenica al museo”).
Booking online is optional.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
A modular staircase with low steps and a curved ramp along the western retaining wall form a route accessible to people with mobility impairments. The site has published a guided tour designed for people with disabilities.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The new entrance opens directly onto Piazza Sant’Oronzo.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Ticket office in glass and steel at street level; toilets on the lower level.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Thematic guided tours are advertised, including tours designed for people with disabilities. |
