Arena di Verona

Who said that you have to go to Rome to enter the world of gladiators?

The most impressive monument of Verona, the Arena di Verona is a Roman amphitheatre located in the historic centre of the city. Because of the lack of written sources about the inauguration of the arena, there are many disagreements about it's date of construction. After many studies and comparisons with arenas of the same type (like, for example, the Pula Amphitheatre, in Croatia), a conclusion was drawn that it's construction took place approximately in the middle of the I Century AD.

Constructed with limestone, the structure has a capacity of thirty thousand people (30000) and survived an earthquake in 1117, with only a few parts having to be reconstructed (it's outer ring, for example).

Throughout it's history the Arena di Verona has practically been in no use. In it have taken place gladiator fights, use for works with marble, burning of heretics by the Saint Inquisition, the housing of prostitutes, a stage for parties and medieval games. Thanks to it's excellent acoustics, since 1913 it has been used for concerts, like opera performances and rock shows.

You can have a look at some more information about the arena and also it's programme here:

http://www.arena.it/en-US/HOMEen.html

The entrance fee for visiting costs 6 euros. However, when we went to buy our tickets they only costed 1 euro, the reason wasn't clear, but I think that it was because it was on the day when a structure was being erected for a future presentation.

It is really worth getting to know this place, but you need to go right up to the top, because the view is beautiful!

View of the square from the Arena.