February:
Valentine Day in Verona

Veronese Carnival

March:
Vinitaly

June:
Verona Jazz Festival

Verona Summer Theater Festival

July - August:
Opera Festival at the Arena of Verona

September:
International Festival of Traditional Games

December:
Internatonal Festival of Nativities (Presepio)

Opera Festival
at the Arena of Verona

In the early years of last century, the famous tenor from Verona Giovanni Zenatello sang an opera aria in the Arena for few friends who had gathered there by chance. They soon realized how good the acoustic was in the 2000 years old Roman Amphitheater and decided to use it to perform a real opera. In 1913, anniversary of the death of Giuseppe Verdi, the Aida was staged in the Arena.
This first representation was very important because it set a new scenographical style which, thanks to the size of this Roman Amphitheater, allowed the use of huge three-dimensional elements designed by the architect Ettore Fagioli, which enhanced the dramatic effect and soon had an enormous success. People came from all over the world to see the operas in Verona.
After the first edition, the opera season in the Arena quickly became an international institution, the greatest lyric theater in the world, with a huge stage and seating for some 20,000 spectators per evening astonished in front of huge and elaborate stage sets. Maria Callas made her debut at the Arena in 1947 with the opera La Gioconda and in the 70s, at the Arena Opera Festival, sang also Pavarotti and Domingo.

ARENA di VERONA
86th FESTIVAL, Summer 2008

NABUCCO
by Giuseppe Verdi

June - 22, 26
July - 3, 9, 16, 26
August - 7, 29

AIDA
by Giuseppe Verdi

June 20, 28
July 6, 8, 11, 17, 20, 27
August 3, 8, 17, 21, 24, 26

TOSCA
by Giacomo Puccini

June 20, 27
July 4, 12, 19
August 1

CARMEN
by Georges Bizet

July 5, 10, 13, 15, 18, 25
August 5, 10, 15, 22, 27, 30


RIGOLETTO
by Giuseppe Verdi

August 2, 6, 9, 20, 23, 28

GALA Romeo and Juliet

August 16, 19

For further information on operas, tickets, etc, or to book a guided sightseeing tour before the show please write at:

info@veronissima.com