Sferisterio of Macerata

The Arena Sferisterio is a historic open-air amphitheater located in the city of Macerata, in the central Italian region of Marche. It was originally built in the 1820s as a sports venue for the game of Pallone, a type of ball game similar to tennis, but eventually fell out of use.

In the early 20th century, the local authorities decided to renovate the arena and convert it into a venue for cultural events, including opera performances. The first opera season was held in 1921, and the arena has since become one of the most important and prestigious opera festivals in Italy.

Today, the Arena Sferisterio has a seating capacity of around 2,500, with an additional 500 seats in the balconies. It hosts a variety of cultural events throughout the year, but is most famous for its summer opera festival, the Macerata Opera Festival, which takes place each July and August and attracts thousands of opera lovers from around the world.