Palazzo Ducale di Avella e Anfiteatro Romano
Roman amphitheatre and Colonna ducal palace with a Baroque garden in Avella, Campania
Palazzo Ducale di Avella e Anfiteatro Romano pairs a sixteenth-century Colonna palace with a Roman amphitheatre, for vows in the arena and receptions in the Livia Colonna Garden.
In the town of Avella, in the hills of Campania, a Roman amphitheatre stands beside the sixteenth-century Palazzo Ducale built by the Colonna family. The amphitheatre is elliptical in plan, set partly into the hillside in tuff masonry, with three tiers of seating still intact and two passageways opening onto the arena. The palace faces the central piazza with a pink stucco facade and a late eighteenth-century staircase, and the Monti di Avella rise behind both.
For a wedding, couples take their vows in the arena, surrounded on three sides by ancient stone. Receptions move to the Livia Colonna Garden, laid out in 1735 to a design attributed to Luigi Vanvitelli, where a rectangular fountain carries a marble figure of the god Nile. The site is managed by the Avellarte cultural association and can be taken for exclusive use. There is no kitchen and no accommodation, so catering comes from external Campanian partners and guests stay in nearby towns. Naples is about 30 minutes away by car.
Palazzo Ducale di Avella e Anfiteatro Romano
Gallery
Images courtesy of Palazzo Ducale di Avella e Anfiteatro Romano
The Essentials
- Where
- Avella, Campania, Italy
- Ceremony
- In the Roman amphitheatre; legal civil ceremonies at the Avella comune
- Stay
- No rooms on site; hotels in Avella, Nola and Naples
- Price
- On enquiry
- Exclusive use
- Amphitheatre, palazzo and garden
- Catering
- External Campanian caterers
- Nearest airport
- Naples, about 40 minutes
A Roman arena in the Campanian hills
At the edge of Avella the amphitheatre sits partly in the hillside, built in tuff masonry on an elliptical plan. Its three seating tiers survive, and two vaulted passages still open onto the arena floor.
The Colonna palace on the piazza
The Palazzo Ducale was built in the sixteenth century by the Colonna family on the town's central piazza. A pink stucco facade and a staircase from the late eighteenth century overlook a garden that has existed since 1735.
Vows in the arena, a feast in the garden
Ceremonies are held in the arena with the mountains behind. Guests then move to the Livia Colonna Garden, whose fountain and marble figure of the Nile god provide the setting for the reception.
A town with deep layers of history
Avella was a Samnite city before the Romans arrived. A Norman castle crowns the hill, and the Cippus Abellanus is kept at the Museo MIA, so the day can be paired with a little archaeology.
A Roman Amphitheatre
A second-century AD arena in the hills of Campania, illuminated for evening events and alive with music and theatre.
The ArenaA Baroque Garden by Vanvitelli
The Livia Colonna Garden, laid out in 1735 and attributed to Luigi Vanvitelli, with geometric hedges and a marble Nile fountain.
The Garden
Three Layers of History
Roman amphitheatre, Renaissance ducal palace and Baroque garden: one ancient address, thirty minutes east of Naples.
The SettingNo Accommodation On Site
The VisitAvella team advises on hotels in Avella, Nola and Naples within thirty minutes of the site.
Stay Nearby
The whole of Palazzo Ducale di Avella e Anfiteatro Romano, to yourselves
The amphitheatre, the palazzo and the garden.
- The Roman amphitheatre
- The Palazzo Ducale
- The Livia Colonna Garden
Enquire about your wedding at
Palazzo Ducale di Avella e Anfiteatro Romano
Share a few details about your wedding at Palazzo Ducale di Avella e Anfiteatro Romano and your enquiry will be passed on to them. A reply cannot be promised, and no time can be given for it.
Naples
Palazzo Ducale di Avella e Anfiteatro Romano stands in the town of Avella in the province of Avellino, Campania, at the foot of the Monti di Avella. Naples Airport is about forty minutes away; the towns of Nola and Avellino are each within thirty minutes. The Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and the Phlegraean Fields are all reachable for pre- or post-wedding excursions.
Palazzo Ducale di Avella e Anfiteatro Romano
Piazza Municipio, 83021 Avella (AV), Campania, Italy
Things to do nearby
- Norman Castle of Avella
- Museo MIA and the Cippus Abellanus
- Falesia di Avella
- Nola
- Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast
Getting there
- Naples (NAP)
- Bari (BRI)
What guests say
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Palazzo Ducale di Avella e Anfiteatro Romano
What is the Roman amphitheatre at Avella?
It is an elliptical arena with three tiers of seating, two passageways onto the arena floor and the Monti di Avella behind it, and is one of the best-preserved amphitheatres in Campania.
Can the ceremony take place in the amphitheatre?
Yes. Couples exchange vows in the arena, surrounded by the ancient stone seating. Legal civil ceremonies are held at the Avella comune, while symbolic and blessing ceremonies take place in the arena.
What is the Livia Colonna Garden?
A garden laid out in 1735 to a design attributed to Luigi Vanvitelli, architect of the Royal Palace of Caserta. A rectangular fountain bears a marble figure of the god Nile, and the garden hosts receptions.
What is the Palazzo Ducale?
A palace built in the sixteenth century by the Colonna family, with a pink stucco facade and a late eighteenth-century staircase, standing next to the amphitheatre.
Is there catering on site?
There is no kitchen. Catering is arranged through external Campanian partners, with regional menus and wines from the Irpinia hills.
Can guests stay at the palazzo?
No. There are no rooms on site, and nearby hotels are found in Avellino and Nola, each within about 30 minutes.
Is exclusive use available?
Yes. The amphitheatre, palazzo and garden can be taken for exclusive use, with the Avellarte association managing the site.
Where is Avella?
In the province of Avellino, Campania, about 40 minutes from Naples. The Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and the Phlegraean Fields are within easy reach.
