Anfiteatro Arena

About the museum

The Arena is one of the largest amphitheatres in Italy and the most famous monument in Verona. It was built by the Romans around the middle of the 1st century AD outside the city walls, to ease the flow of spectators and avoid crowding in the centre; it could hold around 30,000 people. Gladiator combats and hunts of wild and exotic animals took place here.

Only a short stretch of the outer ring, which formed the façade, survives, called the Ala. Under Theodoric (AD 493–526) the ring was partly demolished to build the second city wall, and until the Renaissance the Arena was used as a stone quarry. The complex consists of the central arena and the cavea with its tiers, today with rebuilt steps, once crowned by a covered portico.

From the Middle Ages the external arches were rented out by the Comune and later occupied by craft workshops, while the interior was used for various purposes: administration of justice, festivals, shows and races. In 1913 Verdi’s Aida was performed here for the first time, and since then the monument has hosted the summer opera seasons. From April to October, because of the set-ups for performances, the amphitheatre cannot be visited in full.

Highlights

• Roman amphitheatre with seats for around 30,000
• The Ala, the only surviving stretch of the outer façade
• Cavea with rebuilt tiers and ring galleries
• Venue of the summer opera season since 1913

Permanent exhibition

• Visita dell'Anfiteatro Arena – Route through the Roman amphitheatre, from the ring galleries to the cavea and the Ala, the surviving stretch of the outer façade.

Operated by

Comune di Verona – Musei Civici

Visitors per year

approx. 826,590

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Admission costs €1 on the first Sunday of the month from November to March.

Reduced fare of €3 for young people aged 18 to 25 who are EU citizens, and for citizens of non-EU countries with reciprocity arrangements (currently Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Uruguay). Free admission also with the VeronaCard and with the My IMUV Card (residents of the Comune di Verona). With the Arena ticket you can enter the Arche Scaligere free on the same day, when they are open (summer period). From 1 October 2026 the management of the ticket office and bookshop changes, with new online purchase arrangements. It is advisable to buy tickets online on the official website of the Musei Civici (verona.coopculture.it).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Arena is partly accessible for people with mobility difficulties. The level route of the ring galleries can be used without special aids, and the cavea can be visited; however, during the assembly and dismantling of the set-ups, access may be limited for safety reasons. For visit information, please ask at the ticket office.

Kids & families

• Stroller-friendly

Strollers are admitted on the routes, except in areas where this is not possible for safety reasons; they cannot be left at the cloakroom.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Coat check

Free cloakroom for small bags and luggage. Large luggage is not admitted, including baby carrier backpacks.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit