Arena Amphitheatre

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Among the major Roman recreational architectures, the Arena is the ancient amphitheater with the best degree of preservation in the world, as well as the most famous monument in Verona, an undisputed symbol of the Scaliger city.
The building, constructed by the Romans around the mid 1st century AD, once hosted various types of performances, from gladiator fights to hunts of wild and exotic animals. Its elliptical shape is designed precisely to accommodate a large number of spectators (about 30,000) and to provide enough space for the games. The Arena was built outside the walls of the Roman city to facilitate the influx of spectators and avoid overcrowding in the urban center.

The Exterior

Of the outer ring of the Arena, which constituted its facade, only a short section, the so-called Ala, has been preserved. Under the reign of Theodoric (493-526 AD), the outer ring was partially demolished for the construction of the city's second wall, and until the Renaissance, the Arena was used as a stone quarry. In the facade, built with carved limestone blocks from Valpolicella, only one architectural order is used, the Tuscan.

The Interior

The interior part of the building consists of two main parts: at the center the arena, where the performances took place, and around it the tiered seating area for the public. In ancient times, the arena was separated from the seats by means of a podium, above which there were probably nets designed to ensure the safety of the spectators. The cavea, now with reconstructed steps, was divided into horizontal sectors by means of walkways and featured a covered portico with a roof at the top.

The Amphitheater after the Roman Era

From the medieval period onwards, the external arches were rented out by the municipality: until the 16th century, prostitutes were relegated there, while in later periods, artisan shops found a place there. The internal space was over time designated for various uses, such as the administration of justice, parties, shows, and races.
The year 1913 saw the first performance of an opera within the Arena: it was the Aida by Giuseppe Verdi, and from then on this monument became the venue and symbol of the Verona summer opera season, a festival famous all over the world.

This imposing amphitheater, by size, is one of the most prestigious and important examples of Roman architecture and engineering. Built from Valpolicella limestone, today the only remaining part of the original outer ring is the so-called “Ala,” characterized by three-order arches, above which are preserved numerical indications that favored the orderly entrance of spectators. The amphitheater has continued to host performances and events over the centuries, and it is still famous worldwide for the Verona Opera Festival.

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