Italy Guide
The Veneto
The Arena
Opening time: daily 8.30am–7.30pm, closes at 3.30pm during the opera season; March Mon 1.30–7.30pm, Thurs 8.30am–2pm
Price: €4
Dating from the first century AD, the arena has survived in remarkable condition, despite the twelfth-century earthquake that destroyed all but four of the arches of the outer wall. The interior was scarcely damaged by the tremor, and where once crowds of around 20,000 packed the benches for gladiatorial contests, nowadays audiences come to watch gargantuan opera productions. Originally measuring 152m by 123m overall, and thus the third largest of all Roman amphitheatres, the arena remains an awesome sight – and offers a tremendous urban panorama from the topmost of the 44 pink marble tiers