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The Large Palestra (Palestra Grande)

Regio II   Insula 1
MAP

This was the largest of all the public spaces reserved for the use of young people. During the age of Augustus the Palaestra was a gymnasium and the sports activities performed in it were intended to serve as a means of propaganda to inculcate the Imperial ideology in the minds of the younger generations.

In compliance with a decree issued by the Emperor, the town's youths were organized into associations called 'collegia iuvenum'.

The palaestra measures 141 metres by 107 metres and is surrounded by a high wall with ten entrance gates. On three sides it is enclosed by colonnades of 48 columns on the longer side and 35 columns on each of the shorter sides. A double row of plane-trees (the plaster casts of whose roots can be seen here) grew all along its sides to provide shade for the sports ground. The gymnasium was completed by a swimming-pool measuring 35 metres by 22 metres situated right in the middle of the palaestra.

This was the largest of all the public spaces reserved for the use of young people. During the age of Augustus the Palaestra was a gymnasium and the sports activities performed in it were intended to serve as a means of propaganda to inculcate the Imperial ideology in the minds of the younger generations.

In compliance with a decree issued by the Emperor, the town's youths were organized into associations called 'collegia iuvenum'.

The palaestra measures 141 metres by 107 metres and is surrounded by a high wall with ten entrance gates. On three sides it is enclosed by colonnades of 48 columns on the longer side and 35 columns on each of the shorter sides. A double row of plane-trees (the plaster casts of whose roots can be seen here) grew all along its sides to provide shade for the sports ground. The gymnasium was completed by a swimming-pool measuring 35 metres by 22 metres situated right in the middle of the palaestra.

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