Verona Arena

The Arena di Verona is a Roman amphitheater built around 30 AD in the Piazza Bra at the heart of Verona's UNESCO World Heritage historic centre, the third-largest surviving Roman amphitheater after the Colosseum in Rome and the amphitheater in Capua. Unlike many Roman arenas, the Verona Arena is extraordinarily well preserved: 44 of the original 45 tiers of seating remain intact, and the outer ring of the arcade — mostly collapsed — retains four arches of the original exterior on the north side, known as the Ala (wing). The arena seats 15,000 spectators and is still used as a performance venue, most famously for the Arena di Verona Opera Festival held every summer (June to August) since 1913. Productions of Verdi's Aida, Bizet's Carmen, and Puccini's Tosca take place against the ancient stone backdrop with the audience seated on the original Roman terracing. During the opera season, daytime visits close at 3:30 PM to allow for stage preparation; outside festival months, the arena is accessible until 7 PM. The underground passages and vaults beneath the arena level are accessible on the standard admission ticket and reveal the original service infrastructure for the ancient spectacles. Views from the top tier span the entire Piazza Bra, the rooftops of Verona, and on clear days the Alpine foothills to the north. The arena is within easy walking distance of Juliet's House, the Scaligeri tombs, and the Castelvecchio castle, making it the natural anchor of a Verona day visit.