Amiternum Archaeological Area, L’Aquila

In the upper valley of the Aterno River stood Amiternum, which was conquered by the Romans in the 3rd century BC and became a wealthy municipality. The ancient settlement was located on the San Vittorino hill, but during the imperial age, the settlement moved downstream, where the most important archaeological evidence remains: an amphitheater, a theater, remains of a thermal complex, and an aqueduct.

The theater, of which the lower part of the cavea, the orchestra, and the stage remain, was built during the Augustan age and could accommodate about 2,000 spectators.

The amphitheater, of which 48 arches on two levels defining its perimeter remain, was built around the middle of the 1st century AD and could hold up to 6,000 spectators.

Many architectural elements recovered from the site of Amiternum were used in nearby early Christian and early medieval settlements; among these are the catacombs of San Vittorino, where the martyr of the same name was buried.