The Flavian amphitheater in Pozzuoli, near Naples, is the third largest amphitheater in Italy after the famous Coliseum in Rome and another in Capua, also near Naples. It was built by Vespasiano, the first emperor of the Flavian dynasty. During the height of the Middle Ages it was buried under eroded alluvial soil and volcanic ash from the eruption of the nearby shallow crater of the Solfatara volcano, which remains active today.

The burial preserved the large underground areas of the arena, protecting them from destruction. Today they are perfectly conserved. Last month we went to visit site, which is open the public, in search of a legendary lost tunnel that is said to have been used to transport lions and tigers from the nearby port of Pozzuoli to the amphitheater's elaborate underground animal cages. Many of the underground passageways were blocked so we had no luck finding the rumored tunnel on the first visit, but we plan to try again!

The video (in Italian) and the photos