Visit Piazza Bra - Verona Arena

The Verona Arena (Arena di Verona) is a Roman amphitheatre.


The Romans built it outside Verona's first circle of city walls in the first part of the 1st century AD. Games hosted include fights between gladiators or against wild animals. The Arena could held around 30,000 spectators from all over the territory and had four main entrances, corresponding to its two axes.

The facade, of which there is still a small section (the so-called "Ala" or "Wing"), was entirely built in large blocks of white and pink limestone from nearby Valpolicella. In the Middle Ages, stones from the Arena were taken for use on other buildings. Later, it resumed its role as a show and exhibition site; a role it continues to play today for the annual summer opera season, which began in 1913.

Credits: Pwnstar


At the entrance of the “Arena” you have parts of the most outer ring that still displays 4 arches. Originally when the amphitheater was built in the first century AD it was designed with four concentric, elliptic rings (an oval). These rings had perfect hydraulic drainage system. The internal veins or the “vomitoria” gathered and lead away any water filtering down from the outside of any of the rings. It is speculated that this is why the Verona Arena is in an excellent state of conservation. Another reason is that the Arena is constantly in use and promptly renovated when required.

Credits: Pwnstar

Verona Arena is the third in size, coming after the Rome Colosseum and the Amphitheatre of Santa Maria Capua Vetere (approximately 16 miles north of Naples). Surprisingly though, it is in the most excellent condition of all.

Admission fee:
6 euro or free with Verona card.

Tip 1
After visiting the Arena you can also tour around its surrounding - Piazza Bra. You can find a statue of Victor Emanuel II, who was the First King (1861-1878) of the united Italy and last king of Piedmont-Sardinia (1849-1861) as well as the “Fountain of the Alps”. You may even find a bronze book laying in the grass. Click here to know more about it.

Tip 2
If you want to take photos with the Gladiators, do make sure both parties have agreed on the prices before you take a photo. Afterall, they possessed weapons... This is especially true in Rome Colosseum.

Source
http://www.arena.it