The Arena of Verona a journey back in time, to discover one of the most important Roman monuments in Italy.
2000 years of history enclosed in the third largest amphitheatre in Italy. As you approach the mighty outer walls you have the impression that you can still hear the voices of the ancient Romans acclaiming the names of their heroes. At the time of its construction, in the first century AD under Augustus, the amphitheatre hosted games, shows and gladiator fights. The fights took place in the centre of the area called "harena" (hence the name Arena) due to the presence of sand, which was used to absorb the blood of men and animals. They were bloody spectacles, which our modern sensibility finds difficult to conceive, but which at the time thrilled the crowds. At that time, the Arena stood outside the city walls, deliberately distant from the centre, just as modern stadiums are. Before entering, it is worth stopping to admire the white and pink limestone blocks of the exterior, which a recent restoration has brought back to their original colours. They all come from Valpollicella, the prestigious wine-growing area on the outskirts of Verona.
During the restoration of the amphitheatre which took place under the reign of Theodoric, king of the Goths, many of these stones and marbles were used for the construction of the nearby houses, whose facades are still visible today.
