Roman Amphitheatre of Cagliari

The Roman Amphitheatre of Cagliari is an ancient Roman amphitheatre, located in the city of Cagliari, southern Sardinia [1]. The structure, built in the 2nd century AD, was half carved in the rock, while the rest was built in local white limestone, with a façade surpassing 20 m in height [1]. The surface of the arena was 1124.27 square meters [1]. It housed fights between men and animals, of gladiators and other specialized fighters recruited in and outside Sardinia [1]. It was also the seat of public executions [1]. It could house up to 8,000 spectators, some one fourth of the Roman Caralis [1]. The amphitheatre was no longer in use starting from the 5th century AD and was subsequently used as a free stone quarry by the rulers of the area, from the Byzantines, the Republic of Pisa, the House of Aragon and others [1]. The area was acquired by the comune of Cagliari in the 19th century and excavated under the direction of a clergyman, Giovanni Spano [1].