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Arena di Verona

Verona's first-century Roman amphitheatre on Piazza Bra, still one of the world's great open-air opera venues.

  • Verona
  • Monument
Plan your visit
Where
Verona
Best for
First-century amphitheatre
Allow
45 minutes
Best time
Daytime for the structure
Tickets
From €12
Checked September 2026

Verona's Arena is a Roman amphitheatre from the first century CE, built of pink-and-white local stone on the edge of Piazza Bra for gladiators and public spectacles. The earthquake of 1117 brought down almost all of the outer ring, and the three surviving arches, called the ala, still stand as the monument's silhouette; the elliptical interior kept the tiered seating, restored across the centuries.

In 1913 it staged its first opera, Aida, for the centenary of Verdi's birth, and it has become one of the most atmospheric opera houses in the world. It sits within, and is not a separately inscribed part of, the UNESCO property City of Verona.

Sources and citations (2)
  1. Fondazione Arena di VeronaVisitare l'Arena di VeronaHistory sectionRead source
  2. UNESCO World Heritage CentreCity of VeronaOutstanding Universal Value; inscription metadataRead source

Four things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

  1. The Ala

    The only fragment of the outer ring, in three storeys of arches. Seen from the piazza it shows what the whole building looked like.The surviving outer wall on the Piazza Bra side

  2. The upper tiers of the cavea

    Climb to the top for a view over the arena and the rooftops of Verona.Top of the stone seating

  3. The galleries and vomitoria

    Concentric vaulted corridors and entrance passages that show how the Romans moved crowds.Beneath the seating

  4. The arena floor

    The oval floor where gladiators fought and where opera is now staged, with drainage and a central well visible.Center of the building

Plan your visit

Everything you need before you go.

Tickets
From €12
Booking
No booking needed
Time needed
45 minutes
Best time
Daytime for the structure; a summer opera evening for the full experience
Getting there
The Arena stands on Piazza Bra, reached on foot from Verona Porta Nuova station along Corso Porta Nuova, or by city buses. The center is a limited-traffic zone, so leave the car in a garage outside it.
Accessibility
Partly accessible: the historic stonework and steps create barriers, but there is dedicated access for visitors with reduced mobility; contact the Arena in advance.

Sightseeing tickets are separate from opera and concert tickets. Reduced €9 for students and over-65s, €3 for EU citizens aged 18 to 25; under-18s free. On performance days the interior is closed to sightseers. Last updated September 2026. Prices change, so check the official site before you go.

If you go for the opera, bring a cushion and take the unreserved stone steps rather than a numbered seat: it is the classic Verona experience, and the sound carries perfectly from up there.

Official website
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Good to know

How long should you spend at the Arena di Verona?

About 45 minutes for the walk around the arena, the galleries and the top of the cavea.

Is the Arena di Verona worth visiting?

Yes, and even more with an opera. Seeing a performance in a Roman amphitheater is one of the great Italian experiences.

Do you need to book the Arena di Verona?

For opera nights, yes, book ahead. For a daytime visit you can usually walk in, but buy a ticket online to skip the line in high season.

More to see nearby

Same city first, then the nearest across the region.

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