Verona Arena

The Verona Arena is one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in the world and the third-largest amphitheatre after the Colosseum and the one in Capua. Built in the 1st century AD with pink Valpolicella marble, it could host over 30,000 spectators to attend gladiator games and venationes. Located in the heart of Piazza Bra, the Arena is the absolute symbol of Verona and one of the most photographed and visited places in Italy.

Since 1913 it has hosted the prestigious Opera Festival that every summer transforms the amphitheatre into the most thrilling operatic stage in the world, with performances of Aida, Carmen, Nabucco and Turandot that leave the audience breathless. Its perfect natural acoustics, created by the elliptical structure and by the Alala (the great internal acoustic shell), amplify every note without the need for microphones, providing a unique and unforgettable sound experience.

Roman era and miraculous preservation over the centuries

Built between 30 and 1 BC during the reign of the Emperor Augustus, the Verona Arena represents a masterpiece of Roman engineering. The original elliptical structure measured 152 metres in length and 123 in width, with three orders of tiers that could accommodate over 30,000 spectators to attend the bloody gladiator combats, the hunts of exotic animals and public executions. The amphitheatre is built with blocks of pink marble and limestone from Valpolicella, assembled without mortar but with extraordinary precision.

It survived almost intact until the devastating earthquake of 1117 that destroyed the outer ring and part of the upper tiers. The subsequent medieval and Renaissance restorations have preserved the original elliptical structure, making it today one of the most readable and best-preserved Roman monuments in the world.

Since 10 August 1913, when the historic first Aida was performed to celebrate the Verdian centenary, the Verona Arena has become the world temple of open-air opera. Every summer, from June to September, the amphitheatre is transformed into a monumental stage that hosts the most prestigious operatic productions with colossal sets, stellar casts and thousands of period costumes. The perfect natural acoustics of the Arena, created by the elliptical shape and amplified by the Alala (the great internal acoustic shell), allow spectators to listen to every crystalline note without any amplification system.

The Veronese stars shine above the tiers while the arias of Aida, Carmen, Nabucco and Turandot echo in the night air, creating an emotional experience that millions of spectators from all over the world define as "unforgettable". In addition to opera, the Arena hosts rock and pop concerts by international artists.

The Verona Arena can be admired from the outside free of charge 24 hours a day strolling in Piazza Bra, while the interior is open to visitors with a ticket during the day (closed on Mondays). The morning visit between 9:00 and 11:00 is recommended to avoid the summer heat and enjoy the immensity of the empty amphitheatre, when you can freely climb the tiers and hear the echo of the Alala. To attend the Opera Festival it is essential to book 6-12 months in advance, choosing between numbered seats (€100-250), numbered tiers (€40-80) or economical unnumbered tiers (€25-35).

Bring a cushion for the marble tiers, a light sweatshirt for the evening and arrive at least an hour before the show. The main entrance is on the side of Piazza Bra, near the Maffeian Museum.