The Arles Amphitheatre - Les arches de l'Arènes

Picture taken in: Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône

The Arles Amphitheatre (French: Arènes d'Arles) is a Roman amphitheatre in the southern French town of Arles. This two-tiered Roman Amphitheatre is probably the most prominent tourist attraction in the city of Arles, which thrived in Roman times. Measuring 136 m (446 ft) in length and 109 m (358 ft) wide, the 120 arches date back to the 1st century BC. The amphitheatre was capable of seating over 20,000 spectators, and was built to provide entertainment in the form of chariot races and bloody hand-to-hand battles. Today, it draws large crowds for bullfighting as well as plays and concerts in summer. The building has the oval arena surrounded by terraces, arcades on two levels (60 in all), bleachers, a system of galleries, drainage system in many corridors of access and staircases for a quick exit from the crowd. It was obviously inspired by the Colosseum in Rome (72-80), which is slightly posterior (90). The amphitheater was not expected to receive 25,000 spectators, the architect was therefore forced to reduce the size and replace the dual system of galleries outside of the Coliseum by a single annular gallery. This difference is explained by the conformation of the land. This "temple" of the game has housed gladiators and hunting scenes for more than four centuries. More info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arles_Amphitheatre --- La reflexión: www.santimb.com/2011/12/arena.html

amphitheater, archs, arches, roman, arenes, Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France, Provence

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