Verona is world famous for the Opera Festival, which attracts millions of music lovers every summer. The city itself, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned as the setting for Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” is a treasure of architecture. Its historic center, easily explored on foot, feels like an open archaeological site nestled between beautiful Renaissance palaces.

The heart of the city is the Arena di Verona, a huge, magnificently preserved Roman amphitheater from the first century. It is the world’s largest open-air opera theatre, with space for up to 22,000 spectators on its 45 rows of stone steps. The Opera Festival tradition began here in 1913 with a monumental performance of Aida to celebrate Giuseppe Verdi’s 100th birthday. Today, opera lovers dream of watching a performance on these marble steps, an experience one should have at least once in a lifetime.

The summer climate, with average temperatures perfect for evening performances, enhances the extraordinary atmosphere under the open sky. While operas by Italian masters like Verdi, Puccini, and Rossini are favorites, the Arena’s stage also hosts major concerts and ballets. Legendary artists, from the Three Tenors—Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, and Josè Carreras—to pop stars like Elton John, Bob Dylan, and Sting, have graced this historic venue.

We create exclusive music trips to Italy for friends of opera and ballet. We urge you to make travel plans early, as the best tickets sell out months in advance and hotel prices rise. With our dedicated music travel packages, you are guaranteed the best seats—comfortable, upholstered chairs in the top categories—paired with a wonderful stay program in Verona.