Catania - Amphitheater

(Local Name: Anfiteatro) On the left side of the Piazza dell'Universita in Catania are the remains of a Roman amphitheater (perhaps second century A.D.), partly demolished during the reign of Theodoric in order to provide material for building the town walls; only the north end is visible. The amphitheater originally measured 126 x 106m/416 x 350ft; its unusually large arena (70 x 50m/231 x 165ft) was second only to the Colosseum in Rome (86 x 54m/284 x 178ft). A little way to the west is the church of San Carcere (13th century doorway).