Amphitheatre ❤️ in Nîmes… Sophie Wildbolz, a Nîmoise herself, was my brilliant guide to the city - past & present. We had a fascinating, wide ranging conversation touching on the process of Roman colonisation in Gaul, the 18th century renaissance of the classical history in the city and the ethics of arena entertainment - then and now. You’ll be able to catch that chat in my upcoming Channel 4 series about the Roman Empire, probably airing early 2026. For those who can’t wait - you can catch me

Arriving at Santa Maria Capua Vetere - to look at the fantastic amphitheatre and dig into the history of gladiatorial contests - and the way that Roman emperors patronised, attended and used these games for political gain. So few people visit here - but it’s well worth popping in if you’re exploring the area. | Alice Roberts