Amphitheater of Arles
This was probably my first visit to an ancient Roman amphitheater ever since I visited Rome some years back. I didn’t get to enter the Colosseum which was closed at the time of my visit. This amphitheater in Arles was open and fortunately, wasn’t overflowing with people. This made for a very pleasant visit. It was almost like I had the entire amphitheater all to myself. Unlike the Colosseum in Rome, this one in Arles doesn’t have very high walls and it appears to be smaller. It much more complete than the one in Rome though.
Walls of the Amphitheater of Arles
It is amazing to think that a structure which is two thousand years old is still standing and it is still very much in use. While events like gladiatorial combat and bullfighting have been consigned to history books, concerts and events are still held in this arena two thousand years after its construction. The amphitheater of Arles is arguably the centerpiece of the town. The periphery of the amphitheater is lined with cafes and restaurants. It would have been nice of have a meal here with the amphitheater looming large. Although I didn’t stay here after dark, the amphitheater would have been impressive to see at night as well. Now that I think about it, Arles would have been nice to photograph at night. Perhaps in a future trip I may decide to do that.
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