Summer Opera in Verona

While Italy has many grand historic opera houses, one of the most exciting places to experience Italian opera is outdoors in the Arena di Verona, the Roman amphitheater in Verona, with one of the world's largest opera stages. The 2008 summer season opens June 20th with a new production of Aida by Giuseppe Verdi. Aida is the most loved and most performed opera in the Arena, having been performed 517 times in 48 productions in Verona already. For a complete schedule and to purchase tickets, go to the Arena di Verona site.

Verona is a beautiful city in northeastern Italy on the Adige River. Verona has Roman sites, a wonderful market square (the forum in Roman times), a castle, ornate tombs, and Juliet's balcony. OK, it's not really Juliet's balcony but throngs of tourists still flock to see it and it's one of Italy's most visited sites.

Verona is on our Italy Suggested Travel Itinerary - Milano to Venice by Train and Top Romantic Places in Italy. Europe Travel has more about Verona, including more pictures, in the Verona Travel Guide.

_{Photo of Juliet's balcony © by James Martin, Europe Travel, licensed to about.com}