The Roman Amphitheater of Vasto, located in the heart of the city under Piazza Rossetti, represents one of the most important archaeological remains in Abruzzo. Although it is not completely visible due to subsequent urban stratifications, its presence is still tangible, and tells a fascinating piece of Roman history.
Dating back to the end of the first century and the middle of the second century AD, the amphitheater is part of the period of maximum splendor of the ancient Histonium.
Its construction, in mixed construction made of lattice and bricks, followed the typical elliptical shape of Roman amphitheatres, with a major axis of 113 meters and a minor one of approximately 93 metres. The central arena, where the shows took place, measured approximately 81 by 62 metres.
The amphitheater had an irregular ellipse with 41 arches on the longer side and 31 on the smaller one. It is assumed that the wooden steps set against the perimeter walls could accommodate from 6,000 to 15,000 spectators. This gives an idea of the size and importance of the Roman Histonium in the imperial period.
The Roman amphitheater was mainly intended for munera gladiatoria, or fights between gladiators, and venaziones, shows with wild animals.
Even if there are no archaeological elements to support this thesis, it has always been believed that naumachies, naval battles, also took place in the Histonium amphitheater.
Several portions of the amphitheater are still buried about 5 meters below the current ground level. Few remains of the walls are visible on the eastern side of Piazza Rossetti, inside the shop windows which make it an ornamental element. The northern entrance to the amphitheater is incorporated into the foundations of Palazzo Palmieri.
In the presumably Norman period the external wall of the amphitheater was used to build the city wall. It is now incorporated into the buildings on the east side of Piazza Rossetti, hence its particular elliptical shape.
