Verona Opera Festival – Italy 2025

Background & History

The Verona Opera Festival, held annually since 1913, transforms the 2,000-year-old Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheater built in 30 AD, into the world’s largest open-air opera house. Launched with Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida to celebrate his centenary, the festival has run for 101 seasons, pausing only during the World Wars and the 2020 pandemic.

Organized by the Fondazione Arena di Verona, a private-law foundation since 1998, it attracts over 400,000 spectators annually with its grand productions and stellar acoustics. The 2025 season, the 102nd, features world-class artists like Jonas Kaufmann and Anna Netrebko, cementing Verona’s status as a global opera hub.

Festival Highlights

• Nabucco (Giuseppe Verdi): A new production by Stefano Poda, opening the festival with Verdi’s dramatic masterpiece about Babylonian captivity. Dates: June 13–September 5, 2025.
• Aida (Giuseppe Verdi): Directed by Stefano Poda, this “crystal” production, known for record-breaking attendance, runs for 13 evenings. Dates: June 20–September 4, 2025.
• La Traviata (Giuseppe Verdi): Hugo De Ana’s direction brings Verdi’s tragic love story to life. Dates: June 27–August 6, 2025.
• Rigoletto (Giuseppe Verdi): A historical reconstruction of Verdi’s “popular trilogy” opera, focusing on betrayal and revenge. Dates: August 8–September 6, 2025.
• Carmen (Georges Bizet): Franco Zeffirelli’s iconic production, redefining Arena performances with its vibrant staging. Dates: July 4–September 3, 2025.
• Carmina Burana (Carl Orff): A powerful lyrical-symphonic concert performance, igniting the Arena. Date: August 15, 2025.
• Viva Vivaldi: The Four Seasons: An immersive concert experience of Vivaldi’s masterpiece. Date: August 27, 2025.
• Zorba il Greco (Mikis Theodorakis): A ballet at Teatro Romano di Verona, featuring sirtaki rhythms. Dates: August 26–31, 2025.
• Special Events: Performances by Jonas Kaufmann (August 3, 2025) and Roberto Bolle and Friends (July 22–23, 2025), offering gala concerts and ballet.

Date & Duration

Dates: June 13–September 6, 2025
Duration: 86 days, with performances typically starting at 9:00 PM or 9:30 PM (GMT+02:00). Gates open two hours prior. Shows last 2.5–4 hours, with intermissions.

Venue / Location

Main Address: Arena di Verona, Piazza Brà 1, 37121 Verona, Italy
Additional Venue: Teatro Romano di Verona (for Zorba il Greco), Via Regaste Redentore 2, 37129 Verona, Italy
City and Region: Verona, Veneto, Italy
Details: The Arena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, seats ~15,000 (reduced from 30,000 historically for safety). Its oval structure (140 x 100 meters) and 31-meter height offer exceptional acoustics. Most events occur in the Arena, except Zorba il Greco at Teatro Romano.

Contact Information

Email: cs@arenadiverona.it (customer service), biglietteria@arenadiverona.it (ticket office), info@arenadiverona.it (general inquiries)
Phone: +39 045 800 5151 (call center, Monday–Saturday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM)
Ticket Offices:

• Main Ticket Office: Via Dietro Anfiteatro 6/b, 37121 Verona
• Teatro Filarmonico: Via dei Mutilati 4/k, 37121 Verona
  Website: arena.it
  Social Media: @arenadiverona (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter)
  Management Contacts:
• General Manager/Sovrintendente: Cecilia Gasdia (sovrintendenza@arenadiverona.it)
• Artistic Director: Cecilia Gasdia (direzione.artistica@arenadiverona.it)
• Deputy Artistic Director: Stefano Trespidi (stefano.trespidi@arenadiverona.it)
• Sales and Marketing: Andrea Compagnucci (commerciale@arenadiverona.it)

Ticket Information

• Pricing:
  • Standard Seats: From €30 (~$33 USD) for unnumbered stone steps (non-sector). Cushions recommended (~€5 rental or bring your own).
  • Premium Seats:
    • 1st Sector Stalls Platinum: From €220 (~$240 USD)
    • 1st Sector Stalls Premium: From €265 (~$290 USD)
  • VIP Experiences:
    • Backstage VIP Pass + Opera: From €654 (~$715 USD), includes exclusive access.
    • Star Roof Experience: From €1,437 (~$1,565 USD), offers premium views and amenities.
  • Zorba il Greco (Teatro Romano): From €24 (~$26 USD).
• Sales Channels:
  • Official Website: arena.it (primary source, digital or printed tickets accepted).
  • Authorized Platforms: Classictic, Viator, TicketOne, Vivaticket.
  • On-Site: Main Ticket Office (Via Dietro Anfiteatro 6/b) or Teatro Filarmonico.
  • Phone: +39 045 800 5151.
• Notes:
  • Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Refunds will only be issued if a performance is canceled before starting due to bad weather (up to a 150-minute delay possible). No refunds if a show stops after beginning.
  • Teachers can use “Carta Docente” for discounts.
  • Invoices for businesses/VAT holders must be requested before the performance via https://form.jotform.com/233032485285355.
  • Prices vary by performance, date, and seat; check arena.it for specifics. Duplicate tickets are never issued, and lost tickets require repurchase.

Cultural Experience

The Verona Opera Festival offers a magical blend of history and art in the Arena’s ancient setting. Under the stars, performances like Aida and Carmen come alive with lavish sets (e.g., Egyptian obelisks for Aida) and thousands of candles lit in homage to the festival’s early days. The 2025 season features top artists like Jonas Kaufmann and Anna Netrebko, delivering powerful arias like “Nessun Dorma.” Large screens display Italian/English subtitles, enhancing accessibility for newcomers. The festival’s global digital reach (46.7M Instagram/Facebook contacts in 2023) underscores its cultural prominence. Verona’s UNESCO-listed centro storico, with landmarks like Juliet’s Balcony, adds to the immersive experience.

Food & Drinks

• Policy: Food and drinks are prohibited inside the Arena, including plastic bottles over 0.5 liters, glass containers, or blunt objects.
• On-Site: Refreshments (e.g., soft drinks, ~$3–$5 USD) are available during intermissions for numbered seats and stalls only. No food is sold inside.
• Nearby Dining: Verona’s Piazza Brà offers family-friendly restaurants like Ristorante Maffei (Piazza delle Erbe, ~$15–$40 USD per dish) with kids’ menus and Arena views. Pre-opera dining is recommended due to late performance times. Vegan/gluten-free options are limited; confirm with restaurants.

Family & Accessibility

• Children’s Policy: Children under 4 are not admitted due to performance length (2.5–4 hours) and noise concerns. No family ticket packages, but “Arena Young” offers youth-oriented programs (details at arena.it). Kid-friendly operas like Carmen or The Barber of Seville are recommended, with prior story familiarization. Arrive early for kids to explore the Arena’s ambiance.
• Accessibility:
  • Disabled Spectators: Those with ≥67% certified disability (via European Disability Card or equivalent) or wheelchair users can purchase 6th sector seats at the lowest full price (~$33 USD), subject to availability. Accompanying persons for 100% disabled spectators with a carer’s allowance pay €2.50 (~$3 USD). Reservations require an online form with certification. Wheelchair access via gates 1, 4, or 8, with two disabled toilets in the stalls. No architectural barriers in the stalls, but tiered seats may require upgrades.
  • General Accessibility: The Arena is wheelchair-accessible via a metal ramp from Piazza Brà. Cobblestone streets around Verona may pose challenges; use trams (e.g., T1 line, ~$1.70 USD) for easier city access.

Getting There

• By Air: Verona Villafranca Airport (VRN), 10 km from the city center, offers flights from major European cities. Taxis (~$20–$30 USD, 15 minutes) or shuttle buses (~$7 USD, 20 minutes) reach Piazza Brà. Venice Marco Polo (VCE, 120 km) or Milan Malpensa (MXP, 180 km) are alternatives (train/bus, $15–$30 USD, 1.5–2.5 hours).
• Public Transport: From Verona Porta Nuova station (1.5 km from Arena), take bus 11, 12, or 13 (~$1.70 USD, 10 minutes) to Piazza Brà. Free transport passes with hotel bookings cover buses.
• Parking: Parcheggio Cittadella or Parcheggio Arena (~$1–$3 USD/hour, 10-minute walk). Book early via arena.it due to limited spaces.
• Traffic Restrictions: Piazza Brà may have pedestrian zones during performances. Check arena.it for updates.

Camera Policy

• Prohibited: Photography, video recording, and audio recording are strictly forbidden inside the Arena, including cameras, tripods, and smartphones. Ushers may confiscate devices.
• Outside: Photography is allowed in Piazza Brà and around the Arena’s exterior, capturing its Roman architecture and festival props.

Additional Services

• Lost & Found: Available at Verona’s Town Hall (Ufficio Oggetti Smarriti, Palazzo Barbieri).
• Cushions: Bring your own or rent (~€5 USD) for stone steps. Essential for comfort during long performances.
• Opera Libretto: Not included in ticket price; purchase at Arena shop (Gate 10, ~$5–$10 USD).
• Backpacks/Umbrellas: Small backpacks and folding umbrellas (no sharp points) allowed; large bags (>17 liters) prohibited.
• Dress Code: No strict code, but smart attire is preferred for stalls (no shorts, tank tops, or thong sandals for men). Casual dress is acceptable for stone steps, with weather-proof clothing advised (e.g., raincoats, as umbrellas are banned).
• Guided Tours: Arena monument tours via Verona Municipality (verona.it, ~$10–$20 USD). Festival-specific backstage tours are included in VIP packages.
• Bellini’s Love for Music Club: A kid-friendly program with workshops to introduce children to opera, bookable via arena.it (~$10–$20 USD).