Arena di Verona

The Arena is a Roman amphitheatre in Piazza Bra in Verona, built in the first century. It is something that you will see almost immediately on entering the city. It is used for large-scale opera performances and being one of the best preserved ancient structures, it can actually accommodate 15,000 people. The amphitheatre was built from three concentric circles, and only one side of the external ring remains, this is known as the wing. The circular façade of the building has a light brown hued exterior, and can be accessed by buying admission tickets. Made using Veronese marble, below the tiers you will find galleries, cells, and passageways that cannot be visited today. Being set in the historical centre, the Arena was always the venue for spectacular events and in Roman times had witnessed gladiator fights. Considered among the best preserved monuments of its kind, the perimeter is a whopping 391 m long. Since the 19th century, this is the venue for theatrical and musical performances. In today’s times, the venue is used for the annual summer opera festival, which is a big draw among locals and foreigners alike.