More Evidence the Romans were here

We were going to the Amphitheater and the Roman baths yesterday, but we ran out of time.
On the way today we passed a beautiful, colorful garden.

This Roman arena was built roughly between 160 and 200 A.D., at the same time as the city walls.  It is estimated that it seated up to 20,000 spectators.

An amphitheater was seen as a requirement for Roman cities.  The arena was a place for animal hunts, gladiatorial battles, musical recitals and religious festivals.

We entered at one end through the remnants of the old Roman wall which surrounded the city and walked out into the center of the arena.  You could look up and envision all that happened in this very spot.

You could see where the animals emerged from the doors of the 15 cells or cages.

We even went down under the floor to see where the animals and the gladiators were "kept".

The grassy area is where all the spectators sat.  In ancient times, the embankment was lined

with stone seating.

This Amphitheater is still a work in  progress, with archeologists still uncovering the Roman way of life here.

Side note:  the other day when we were on the bus, we saw the beautiful green terraced grapevined hillside and today we got a great view of it from the arena.

Next, we went in search of the Kaiserthermen (Imperial Baths).

This area was much more in ruins than the arena,

but it was still interesting to search through the arched underground hallways and stone walkways.

We saw the caldarium (hot water area), the tepidarium (mild water area), and the frigidarium (cold water area).

The Kaiserthermen is also being preserved for future generations.