Verona City in Italy is popularly called the city of love. It is one of the most visited travel destinations for romance.
This historic Roman town was built on a bend of the Adige River and is recorded to have an area of 1,426 km2 with 714,274 inhabitants at present. It is architecturally beautiful with well-preserved ancient buildings, bridges, museums, churches, works of art, and history,
Verona City was adjudged as a historic site by UNESCO. It has the ancient Arena di Verona or Verona Arena as one of the many amazing tourist attractions. This spectacular arena in Piazza Bra in Verona City is between Milan and Venice in northern Italy’s Veneto region. It is made from pink and white stone from nearby Valpolicella, with originally three tiers of arches running along the border but due to fortuitous events, only two tiers still proudly stand mighty today.
The breathtaking pictures of the arena will bring you back to the time of gladiator fights, circus, and equestrian events. History tells that the arena was built by the Romans in the first century AD. The vast arena’s total length is 139 meters and a width of 110 meters. It is considered one of the largest amphitheaters in the world and the best preserved. Today, it is famously known as the setting for William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” and is also home to several hit movies and priceless masterpieces.
It is described as the most renowned Veronese monument still in use and is internationally famous for its large-scale opera performances, events, and concerts.
The arena’s capacity can accommodate 30,000 people however, the Covid-19 safety protocol on social distancing put the allowable maximum attendance at 15,000 people.
Have a wonderful and exciting adventure at Verona’s Roman Arena and Historic Center with the following facts:
Tickets:
Open during the following hours: The opening time is before the beginning of the festival, Monday to Friday: 10.30 am – 4.00 pm.
It is an advantage to buy the Verona card which currently costs 20 euros as it gives a 24-hour visit to the Arena and all other museums.
Modern-day travelers who are on a budget may buy tickets on the arena’s stone steps. They are much cheaper than the padded chairs available on lower levels.
Opening hours:
Tuesday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (last entrance at 6.30 p.m.) except on days when performances are scheduled
Booking:
Click on trusted sites and book ahead in advance.
Dress Code
Opera at the Arena di Verona is an outdoor summer festival. In July and August, it can be very hot in Verona so there is no strict dress code, but for the stall’s seats, at least long pants and a polo shirt are required. There are no dress code rules for the unnumbered seats. However, as clothes make man, frock up to level up that confidence and have fun.
Accommodations
There are a lot of luxury and affordable hotels in Verona, City Italy to choose from. However, during prime performances at the arena, lodging can be difficult so booking in advance is an advantage. For families, groups of friends, or for those who like to experience the life of the Veronese, a vacation rental house or apartment sounds a better choice, especially if it is a week or more staycation.
Interesting bits and pieces:
- The Arena can always be visited, except during events, concerts, and the Opera Festival, where the closing time is anticipated.
- Tour packages are available.
- Check on the weather prior to the visit. Summers in Verona are warm and humid, winters are very cold, while it is partly cloudy year-round. The temperature typically varies from 31°F to 86°F and is rarely below 22°F or above 93°F.
- The best seats are the ‘Poltronissime’. The Poltronissime Platinum occupies the central seats of the first 20 rows, the Poltronissime Gold to the sides and rear of the Platinum, the Poltronissime Silver to the rear of the Gold, and the Poltronissime standard are to the sides of the Gold.
- Candles are distributed to the audience and lit after sunset around the arena.
- Roman ruins are evident in the everyday fabric of the infrastructure.
- Grandiose stage sets are arranged in the central space. The elliptical shape gives the space excellent acoustics.
- “Arena” means sand and it refers to the sand that covered the floor of the ring to absorb the blood spilled during the gladiator fights.
- The Arena is one of the best places in the world to see opera. In the news, the arena is the venue of performances from the most renowned opera singers of the world to contemporary artists like Pearl Jam and Adele, and the setting for the Bollywood movie called Rockstar.
- Record shows that every year, over 500,000 people see productions of popular operas in the arena.
- It is one of the best-preserved ancient structures in the world.
- The Arena symbolizes the Scaliger town. The Della Scala family, whose members were known as Scaligeri or Scaligers from the ruling family of Verona and mainland Veneto from 1262 to 1387, for a total of 125 years.
- The first interventions to recover the arena’s function as an opera venue began during the Renaissance. Some operatic performances were later mounted in the building during the 1850s, owing to its outstanding acoustics.
- Verona has fantastic food. All that and the world-famous frozen Italian treats can be enjoyed by tourists. Before and after the visit to the arena, grab food and drinks to your heart’s content.
- Safe accommodations and transportation are assured.
Conclusion:
The splendid Roman Arena defines antiquity in the most sophisticated way as popular concerts make the place loud and alive. The audience enjoys the unique atmosphere of an open-air spectacle. The city itself, with its so many amazing tourist attractions, is set as a historical center. Visiting this place would truly be an amazing lifetime experience.