The Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheatre in the historic centre of Verona and one of the best-preserved ancient amphitheatres. It was built in the 1st century AD, before the Colosseum, and probably held around 30,000 spectators in Roman times. Of the outer ring, only a section of four arches survives, known as the Ala (wing). In 1913 the tenor Giovanni Zenatello and the impresario Ottone Rovato staged Verdi's Aida here for the centenary of the composer's birth; since then the opera festival has been held every summer, interrupted only by wars. Maria Callas sang here regularly from 1947 to 1954. Its capacity for summer performances is now estimated at around 22,000. In February 2026 the Arena hosted the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics.
The Arena di Verona is a Roman amphitheatre from the first century AD and seats up to 15,000 spectators in the open air for opera performances. The 1913 Aida production established the operatic tradition.
At a glance
- Type
- Opera house
- Location
- Verona, Italy
More venues in Italy
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