Discover Santa Maria Capua Vetere

Santa Maria Capua Vetere offers various ways to explore ancient architecture, archaeological collections, and religious traditions. The Mitreo, several museums, the Anfiteatro campano, and the Arco di Adriano each offer a different focus.

The Mitreo and its architecture

The Mitreo di Santa Maria Capua Vetere is one of the most important Mithraea in the world; its construction is dated to the 2nd century AD. It consists of a rectangular chamber approximately 12 meters long and 3 meters wide, with a barrel vault and light openings. A barrel vault is a curved ceiling that extends lengthwise. Together with its dimensions, it gives the space a clearly defined architectural form. Those interested in ancient places of worship can make the Mitreo a focus of their visit and mentally contrast its spatial form with the city's monumental buildings and collection pieces.

Museums and archaeological tour

The courtyard of the Museo archeologico dell'antica Capua contains stone fragments, sarcophagi, and a marine mosaic from an ancient bath complex. At the entrance, visitors are greeted by a Roman statue of the Resting Satyr by Praxiteles. The museum also preserves archaeological finds from excavations carried out since the 1980s. This brings striking individual objects together with a collection assembled through long-term excavations. Ramps and elevators make it easier to move through the exhibition areas.

The Anfiteatro campano is the centerpiece of the archaeological sightseeing tour. It was built during the Flavian period, modelled on the Colosseum; its construction is dated from the end of the 1st century AD to the 2nd century AD. The Circuito Archeologico Nazionale dell’Antica Capua is located in Santa Maria Capua Vetere near the Via Appia and includes the Museo Archeologico Nazionale dell’Antica Capua, the Mitreo, and the Anfiteatro. These three sites form the core of this archaeological tour.

The Museo del Gladiatori offers another perspective on gladiatorial games. In its first hall, they are presented using panels, copies of armor found in Pompeii, a model, and a video. This presentation takes a different approach from the archaeological finds and buildings on the archaeological tour: it conveys the subject through a variety of exhibition formats.

Other sites and religious traditions

The Arco di Adriano is on the Via del Lavoro; you can reach it on foot or by car. According to access information updated in February 2025, it can be visited freely throughout the day because it is in a public area. Check before your visit whether this access policy is still in effect.

The Museo Civico is housed in the former Convento degli Alcantarini, built between 1677 and 1684. The complex includes the Church of San Bonaventura and an underground cemetery. An entrance ramp and an elevator inside provide access to the exhibition rooms; the elevator reaches all the rooms. This gives the museum its own architectural and historical focus alongside the archaeological sites.

The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, the Duomo, is also part of the spiritual tour of Santa Maria Capua Vetere. The Festa della Madonna Assunta is one of the city's religious traditions and festivals. Along with the churches and museums, this focus extends the selection beyond the ancient sites. Depending on whether you want to explore architectural history, archaeological objects, or religious traditions, you can tailor the focus of your trip accordingly.

Discover more destinations: Statigliano, Dragoni, Arienzo, Liberi, Conca Della Campania, San Prisco, Orta Di Atella, Capua.

For the broader travel overview: Caserta.