View of the City of Arles

The amphitheater of Arles is the centerpiece of the Roman monuments of the UNESCO World Heritage site listed Arles. It is remarkably well preserved as it has been in constant use over the centuries. While the structure has been there for two thousand years, the use has changed over the years. It was built for the purpose of showcasing gladiatorial combat, a very popular form of entertainment back in the days of the Roman empire. The amphitheater has also seen its days as a fort, when you look at the amphitheater, it makes sense to turn it into a fort. There used to be structures here where people lived but it has been cleared away to resume its purpose as a venue for entertainment.

Although, the amphitheater itself isn’t that tall, it is still tall enough to see above the city of Arles. There is a flight of stairs near the entrance which can take you to the a viewing point. Actually it feels more like a lookout point possible for invaders. The stairs is actually quite narrow and only has room for one person going one way and I don’t consider myself that big. The top of the viewpoint gives you sweeping views of the city of Arles. From here you can see how homogeneous the town is. The colors are mostly earthy colors and I think that is quite attractive. I hope it is a sign how how little the city has actually changed over the centuries.

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