Arena di Verona (Verona Amphitheater), Verona (must see)

Located on Piazza Bra, this Roman amphitheater can seat up to 22,000 people and was built in 30 AD. It is home to the Verona Opera season each summer. The arena is known for its superb acoustics. Over 500,000 people visit this place each year.

In ancient times, people came from far and wide to see the many performances, jousts, and trials. In modern times, great artists, such as Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi, Renata Tebaldi, Simple Minds, Duran Duran, Dire Straits, Rod Stewart, and Sting, have performed at the arena.

The original building was constructed of pink and white limestone and could seat 30,000 people. An earthquake in 1117 destroyed much of the building’s outer ring. Today, seating is limited to 22,000 for safety reasons.

The arena looks just like a small Colosseum, and tours are available where you can wander around the tunnels underneath. Acoustics are good and the stage sets are delightful – nowhere else will you get a treat like this in the open air!