The Arles Arena (in French: Arènes d’Arles) or Roman amphitheatre in Arles is a historic Roman building in the city of Arles, Provence. The amphitheatre was built at the end of the 1st century AD. (90 A.D. approx.). It is the largest Roman amphitheatre in Gaul and one of the best preserved Roman monuments in the world and is often regarded as the oldest plaza de toros in the world.
The building measures 136 m (446 ft) in length and 109 m (358 ft) in width, and has 120 arches. It has an oval shape and the arena is surrounded by terraces, porticoes on two levels (60 in all), steps, a system of galleries, a drainage system in many access corridors and stairs for quick exit from the crowd. It was obviously inspired by the Colosseum of Rome (built between 72-80 A.D.).This "temple" of the games has hosted gladiators for more than four centuries.
