Amazing Ancient Amphitheaters

Before stadiums like the Sprint Center (here in KC) sold out concerts and shows, and events like the NFL Superbowl drew crowds, amphitheaters were the place to be if you wanted to see a great show. But even as they sit as a shell of their former selves, their ancient structures take us on a journey to vicious combats and religion to amid roaring crowds and deathly silence.  Take a seat and watch as history creates six of the world’s most fascinating amphitheaters.

Colorado: Red Rocks Amphitheater

Unlike most amphitheaters, we can thank Mother Nature for uprooting the Red Rocks Amphitheater out of the veins of the ocean during earth’s tectonic shifts.  Now, some millions of years later, this geological creation is not only stunning, but it’s also an ideal place to hear great acoustics reverberating from its stone-style columns.

No auto-tune can create sounds as authentic as the stones formed here. That’s why its unique settings play host to concerts as well as a stage for watching history and natural beauty unfold. Looking for a place to rock out amid cool-sounding acoustics under the heavens?  If so, Red Rocks Amphitheater is the place to be.  After all, it may be the only venue that is not manipulated by the artist.

France: Arles Amphitheatre

Don’t be fooled by the old charm gleaming off of Arles Amphitheatre’s rustic walls because it conceals secrets of blood baths and deathly chariot races.  And to this day, visitors from France and beyond get their adrenaline rush while watching bullfights.

Since its creation in 90 AD, it has seated up 200,000 spectators, and continues to attract massive crowds who are drawn by its eventful history and dynamic façade featuring bleachers, terraces, staircases and much more.  Just imagine sitting in its bleachers and listening to a performer belt out a song here.  Whether you’re admiring its beauty or entranced by a show, the Arles Amphitheatre always puts on a memorable show.


Italy: Amphitheatre of Pompeii

Built to evoke the wild entertainment that completely drove the Romans crazy, the Amphitheatre of Pompeii is the earliest of its kind to display their infatuation for gladiatorial combats.  The amphitheater also displays great strength by becoming the oldest Roman Amphitheatre that has survived the test of time.  

This could be because it was the first to be designed in stone, and it contained a washroom room that profoundly displayed the engineering feats made during its creation. However, the Amphitheatre of Pompeii’s career as a venue for gladiator fights was short-lived after a deadly fight broke out between Pompeiians and a nearby village, resulting in a 10-year ban.  

Greece: Amphitheatre at Epidaurus

The first thing you’ll want to do here is hear your voice echo amid the Amphitheatre at Epidaurus’ amazing acoustics, which is what it is proudly known for.  The amphitheater is one of Greece’s well-preserved sites, especially since it remained out of sight for centuries.

Differentiating from its other Roman counterparts, it acted as a religious center in honor of the god of healing, Asklepios.  Nevertheless, the Amphitheatre at Epidaurus is still quite the attraction, with such exquisite audibility, even when there’s a packed house during a show, the sounds bouncing off its walls are as clear as a bell.


Italy: Colosseum

We cannot leave out the granddaddy of all amphitheaters, which is the iconic Colosseum.  Rome’s masterpiece continues to be a showstopper for locals and tourists alike, although it sits in a ghostly silence.   Like many before its time, it was marked by animals ripping each other to shreds and gladiators fighting to the death. For centuries it was awakened by exciting uproars of large crowds wanting to be entertained. Stepping in its presence, visitors are rewarded with visions of its glory days as well as its turbulent times. And with much of its façade completely ruined, it is still the beating heart of Rome.