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The
Verona Arena
The Verona Arena (Arena di Verona) is a Roman amphitheatre in
Verona, Italy, which is internationally famous for the large-scale opera
performances given there. It is one of the best preserved ancient
structures of its kind. The building itself was built in AD 30 on a site
which was then beyond the city walls. The ludii (shows and games) staged
there were so famous that spectators came from many other places, often
far away, to witness them. The amphitheatre could host more than 30,000
spectators in ancient times. The round faēade of the building was
originally composed of white and pink limestone from Valpolicella; but
after a major earthquake in 1117, which almost completely destroyed the
structure's outer ring, except for the so-called "ala", the stone was
quarried for re-use in other buildings.
(wikipedia)
« De summo montis Castrum prospectat in
urbem daedalea factum arte viisque tetris nobile, praecipuum,
memorabile, grande theatrum, ad decus extructum, sacra Verona, tuum.
Magna Verona, vale, valeas per secula semper et celebrent gentes nomen
in orbe tuum »
(Iconografia
rateriana)
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