The oval of Verona's arena is oriented according to the axes of the late-Republican urban plan, and stands outside the walls that enclosed the Roman city, in which was included only with the new outer walls of Gallienus (265 AD). Built in the first half of the first century AD, it belongs to a group of buildings with similar characteristics and age that includes the amphitheater of Pula and Aosta and those of Arles and Nimes, all adorned only by columns of the Tuscan order (unlike the Colosseum, built later on).
The cavea (auditorium), with a capacity of thirty thousand people, is supported by inclined vaults resting on radial roofs, some of which contain the stairs, crossed by concentric annular tunnels leading to four levels of "vomitoria" (passages) open in the stands auditorium. These are not the originals anymore; they were replaced several times over the centuries by changing the layout, while the remaining structure had no significant tampering. The external facade fell almost certainly during the violent earthquakes of 1117 and 1183, after which survived only the four bays of the wing.
Occasionally used for rides in the Middle Ages, "God's judgments" and executions, all events that were transformed into mass events, the Arena was mainly used for the convenient shelter that the external arcade could provide. These arcades hosted homes, shops, warehouses and during the Scaliger age until 1537, were the compulsory residence of prostitutes in the city. At the end of the XVth century, with the resurgence of interest in antiquities, began the studies on the amphitheater, perceived as the noblest monument in Verona, and during the following century it began the restoration work.
Use for celebrations and public events intensified in the XVIII° century when, in addition to the usual tournaments, became very popular the "bull hunt". The bull was induced to fight against specially trained dogs. Were also frequent performances in temporary theaters set up inside. In 1913 was inaugurated the first
opera season with the
Aida by Giuseppe Verdi.
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Inside the Opera - File, History, Synopsis, Images
Aida - The Ethiopian slave has become the queen of the Arena
Barbiere di Siviglia - "Almaviva" that is "The Useless Precaution"
La Bohéme - Bohemian life in the Latin quarter
La Traviata - Traviata, Parisienne prima donna representative of the "mal du siécle"
Nabucco - The history of a reawakening
Roméo et Juliette - An opera that since the beginning had a great success
Carmen - The scandalous opéra
Tourandot - Puccini's last great Opera
Tosca - One of the most loved of Giacomo Puccini's operas
Il Trovatore - The Opera that marks the artistic maturity of Verdi
Rigoletto - The first of what is known as Verdi's "popular trilogy"
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