The Episcopal Palace of Murcia is a historic building located in Cardenal Belluga Square. It is the official headquarter of the Diocese of Cartagena. Built in the 18th century with very unique architectural elements, it is one of the most important works of monumental heritage in Murcia. Several master stonemasons collaborated in its construction. It is a magnificent example of rococo style, with a square floor plan, between Italian and French, with sober volumes and delicate decorative grace, evident in its beautiful façades.
It was built with clear influences from the last Italian mannerism. Mural treatments based on fresco ornamentations are a feature of roman and Neapolitan palaces.
From the interior there some things of great interest: the imperial staircase, the courtyard, organized in three arcades in Doric order and a more compact upper body, and a small chapel with circular plan and rococo style that is open 24 hours.
The so-called Hammer of the Palace (the bishop's viewpoint); it is an outgoing breakwater built before the construction of the main body began in order to have a viewpoint over the Segura River and the Paseo del Arenal or Glorieta.
References:The Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls was part of the federal sanctuary of the three Gauls dedicated to the cult of Rome and Augustus celebrated by the 60 Gallic tribes when they gathered at Lugdunum (Lyon). The amphitheatre was built at the foot of the La Croix-Rousse hill at what was then the confluence of the Rhône and Saône.
Excavations have revealed a basement of three elliptical walls linked by cross-walls and a channel surrounding the oval central arena. The arena was slightly sloped, with the building"s south part supported by a now-vanished vault. The arena"s dimensions are 67,6m by 42m. This phase of the amphitheatre housed games which accompanied the imperial cult, with its low capacity (1,800 seats) being enough for delegations from the 60 Gallic tribes.
The amphitheatre was expanded at the start of the 2nd century. Two galleries were added around the old amphitheatre, raising its width from 25 metres to 105 metres and its capacity to about 20,000 seats. In so doing it made it a building open to the whole population of Lugdunum and its environs.