Piazza Anfiteatro – the splendid nineteenth-century square of Nottolini

Of ancient origins, piazza dell’Anfiteatro comes to life in the first century AD, in the middle of Roman times.

Over the centuries, the square has to face many vicissitudes. With the barbarian invasions, between 300 and 400, the square is practically demolished and for many centuries it takes the name of “caves”, following the use of space as a quarry.

Over the years, many buildings stand in the center of the “square”, until, in 1800, the architect Lorenzo Nottolini will make Piazza Anfiteatro what we know today.

Freeing the square from the buildings of the past, it creates a unique elliptical space, which today continues to fascinate tourists from all over the world, as well as hosting one of the main centers of aggregation of the social life of Lucca.

The square hosted the home of Antonio Possenti, one of the most appreciated contemporary Lucchese artists.