piazza anfiteatro

Total tourist trap. Beautiful form though.Nice for a walk round or through.You wouldn't find a local here. Just more tourists2wanderers.com

This former amphitheater is very open now. There are many shops in the area. Mid day it gets lots of sun.

We had a great meal in the piazza and there were some good gift shops in the area as well as some great history surrounding the piazza itself!

We were on a very tight schedule visiting Lucca only for a half day. After walking around on the Lucca Walls we went down into the city heading for this round square. At first we missed it and had walked past it getting lost in the small and crowded narrow streets. The place itself is nice but like for example 'Ponte Vecchio' in Florence and the area around 'Leaning Tower' in Pisa very touristic. Lots of expensive terraces which we skipped. After about half an hour and getting some pictures we left the place. Nice to see, but so were a lot of other streets we went through strolling back to the car.

Attraction not to be missed! Old square with a fantastic feeling. What a place to enjoy! Do not miss to have dinner in a small restaurant in the square.

I like this piazza very much - an Anfiteatro with houses! Try to get there either early morning or late at night - less tourists. Makes a good photo opportunity!

Even in winter this piazza has many open cafes and shops and is a good place to grab a coffee or enjoy a spritz. The actual roman amphitheater is long gone but there are a few remnants of stone left. However, the piazza retains the shape of the amphitheater and is a pleasant stop during a walk around the city.

The anfiteatro is a bit difficult to find (find and follow the signs). It is an oval shaped square with mainly living spaces and restaurants within. There are also a few benches available to sit.

We visited here in October 2013. We took a train from Florence to Pisa for a half day visit in this city and then from Pisa to Lucca for a half day tour of this town. We walked along the ramparts surrounding the town descending just after the gardens of Palazzo Pfanner and walking past the church San Frediano. From here we walked to the Piazza Anfiteatro. Lucca was founded in 180BC and this piazza was once the Roman amphitheatre. Over the centuries the stones were ransacked to build churches and palaces. Slum housing clogged the piazza until 1830 when the city's ruler, Marie Louise, ordered it to be cleared. It was then that the amphitheatre's original shape was revealed. Low archways at the piazza's cardinal points mark the gates through which beasts and gladiators would have once entered the arena. It is charming with washing hanging out on poles and lots of eateries to sit and absorb the atmosphere. The town escaped being bombed in WWII so the historic centre has remained unchanged for centuries. The main street Via Fillungo threads its way through the medieval old town just west of the arena. A whole half day is needed to enjoy this town.

This square is located in the very heart of Lucca- actually this is the centre spot.Surrounded by the old buildings, this square is ideal for chillout after long walks through the narrow streets with cobbled stone.I reccomend two gellaterias- ice cream shops!

The piazza itself is very pretty and quite relaxed. The shops themselves are very tourist-oriented but we still enjoyed walking around this place.

This is a lovely space, full of places to eat, or have a gelato, and to do some shopping either inside the circle or on surrounding streets.

When you walk into the Piazza Anfiteatro you can imagine living here hundreds of years ago...with the houses surrounding the markets etc.

Yes, the prices are more and it is definitely touristy, but it was still nice to have lunch and watch the horse-drawn carriage parade it's passengers and visit the little shops around the place.

Although difficult to find this charming piazza enables one to imagine Lucca in ancient times.I am glad to say it is not too commercialised.