European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 30, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Focus Veronas roman Arena is in the Best condition of any such the pit in the floor is used by orchestras when operas and ballets Are held during the All the worlds a stage in Verona Story and photos by Chuck Vinch Munich Bureau chief the legacy of the ancient roman Empire is still very much evident throughout remnants of statues and other works of Art but considering the might once wielded by the it seems a shame that most of these artefacts Are simply useless to All but so its somehow comforting to know that in the people not Only acknowledge their roman they revel in the cites most famous roman the Arena and the Are both alive and Well used for ballets and concerts during the summer both the Arena and the theater Date from around the 1st Century the which dwarfs the nearby Piazza was used for All sorts of including gladiatorial this is the second largest roman Arena in after the colosseum in Rome but this one is in much better thanks to Veronese civic renovations were begun in 1500 and have continued intermittently Ever the Arena was once even larger than it is in 1183 an earthquake destroyed the outer leaving Only the fragmentary or that still stands it can accommodate people and has perfect acoustics for the cultural events that take place it is possible to clamber All Over the from the top Row there Are Good views of the bustling Piazza Bra on Clear the hillsides surrounding the the underside of the Structure is also open to the but its not renovation is a fact of life under the and theres something about ripped out toilet seats and broken pipes that ruins the ancient feel of the the theater is across town from the located just across the Pietra the Entrance is about a Hundred Yards to the right of the Bridge on the via the theater was uncovered relatively Between 1834 and Over the centuries it had gradually fallen into disuse and was covered hovels were erected on top of the site until excavations inside is an archaeological museum which has numerous statues and Bronze figures As Well As mosaics from the roman the Arena is open from in until 6 in Winter and during opera season until the theater and museum Are open from Entrance to both is lire about and they Are closed this three operas by Verdi and a Ballet by Adolphe As Well As symphonic and choral will take the Verdi opera Trovatore will be performed on july and 27 and 28 and Verdis Aida will be performed on july 21 and 30 27 and and another Verdi is scheduled july 28 and 31 and 22 and the Ballet by Adolphe Adam will be performed on july and 26 and 2 and orchestral concerts Are scheduled for july 15 and 29 and and choral concerts will be performed on july 22 and 23 and in the two Shakespeare plays Are Othello will be performed from july 36 and from july much ado about nothing will be performed from july 1820 and from july three ballets Are scheduled for August and in a series of jazz concerts will be held in the Art Blakey jazz messengers will perform june the Freddie Hubbard ensemble on june 8 and dizzy Gillespie on june for opera and Ballet at the ticket prices Start at lire about and go up to a whopping lire about for the prices Range from to lire about to at the prices Range from to lire about to tickets can be obtained at the Arena Box office under Arch number the office is open All year from 9 and monday through Friday and from 9 tickets for the roman theater Are available at the Arena under Arch number 8 open from mid june to the end of the season from 10 and monday through for More information on events scheduled this year at the Arena and write to Ente Piazza Bra one word of advice bring a Cushion to the those hard Stone seats can get quite uncomfortable after a stripes Magazine May