The Sferisterio is an extraordinary open-air arena in Macerata in the Marche and one of Italy's most striking opera venues. Originally built in the 1820s for the traditional ball game (pallone col bracciale), the monumental structure with its extremely wide stage has been used for opera since 1921. Today it is the centre of the summer Macerata Opera Festival, celebrated for its spectacular open-air stagings and remarkable acoustics. The unusually long, shallow stage poses special challenges for directors while enabling unique visual solutions – an operatic experience found only in Macerata.
Did you know?
The arena was financed in the 1820s by some hundred Macerata citizens, the "Cento Consorti".
At a glance
- Type
- Opera house
- Location
- Macerata, Italy
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