Arena - Verona - TravBuddy

The Arena, or the "Verona´s eye" is and old amphiteatre fitted out to modern spectacles. Here takes place the world famous Verona´s opera festival. Every summer, four or five operas are represented in this old-fashioned stage. Verona´s Arena is world famous for all opera lovers, as here some great figures had brightful successes in their careers, including the international debut of Maria Callas.

Even if you aren´t a opera fanatic you will enjoy an opera ACT in Arena. Prices are affordable, views (in and out) are incredible, and the ambient is unrepeteable.

I suggest you to buy in advance through internet, but once you get there you´ll get impressed of the majestic of the scenery. Inside, there are two different atmospheres: the rich one, with their seats down the floor, just in front of the stage, and the common one, with sits on the grades. I reccomend you last one, not only the cheaper but the more real. You will really enjoy the tipical mediterranean ambient. For a spanish couple like us, it was like being at home enjoying a concert or a match.

Also, in the common ambient there is no need to save your best outfit to get there, as you will find all kind of people inside: from entire families (children included) to grandfathers with their spectacles. All around the grades there is official vendors offering cold drinks and libretos. Although this mixtures of ages, nationalities or even interests, everyone guards an respectful silent at the begining of each act to enjoy of the music: Opera is a loved tradition here.

You can also bring your own dinner or drink, and it wasn´t unusual to see people having a sandwich or a piece of fruit during interludes. We saw eve a couple uncorking a champaign bottle (Verona is a great place for celebrations). Most experienced people even brought their owns cushions to soften the cold and hard rock of the grades.

L'Arena di Verona è un anfiteatro romano presente a Verona.
Assieme alle figure di Giulietta e Romeo è considerata l'icona della città veneta. È il terzo anfiteatro romano per dimensione dopo quello di Roma - il Colosseo - e di Capua; è sicuramente fra i meglio conservati.