The Arena di Verona will host the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics [Photo: ©Vickey Maverick]

PHOTOGRAPHY

Showcasing Arena di Verona

One of the best-preserved ancient Roman amphitheaters will host the closing ceremony of the 25th Winter Olympics

A few days ago I showcased snapshots from Milan. Italy’s second-most populous city and economic hub is co-hosting the 25th Winter Olympic Games (from 6 to 22 February) along with Cortina d’Ampezzo. Even as I write this, the Games are witnessing the best ever performance by the host nation.

Milan’s Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, the home ground of both the city’s highly decorated clubs AC Milan and Internazionale Milano popularly known as the San Siro, was the primary host of the Games’ opening ceremony held in the first week of this month. It is arguably the last major event to be hosted at this iconic venue.

Even as the quadrennial extravaganza enters its home stretch, let me shift focus to Verona, the actual setting of the legendary English playwright William Shakespeare’s memorable romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet.

Verona Arena welcomes many visitors daily [Photo: ©Vickey Maverick]

Come Sunday (22 February) and it will be in this city in the Veneto region that the closing ceremony of the Winter Games will take place, at the historic Arena di Verona (Verona Arena).

For the benefit of those not aware, Arena di Verona (photographs attached) is one of the best-preserved ancient Roman amphitheaters, which also happens to be the city’s historic center.

As mentioned previously, I was recently on a vacation in Italy, and Verona was also one of the cities where I spent a few days. My sojourn ensured I managed to explore the Arena di Verona in great detail.

If you take another close look at the photograph at the start of this narrative and also the one below, you will notice projectors from Arena di Verona displaying the logo of Milano Cortina 2026.

Displaying the logo of Milano Cortina 2026 [Photo: ©Vickey Maverick]

This display of lights was palpably the highlight during my stay. Besides, it was still open to the public. As such, I managed to get in and capture multiple photographs of this enormous setting, some of which have become a part of this essay.

To begin with, the Arena di Verona was the last of the huge constructions that was built by the Romans. Intended for the purpose of entertainment, it was deliberately built outside the city walls to ensure the spectators didn’t overcrowd the city.

Getting inside the 2000-year-old complex [Photo: ©Vickey Maverick]

The construction of the complex was completed about 2,000 years ago, a few decades before the iconic Colosseum came up in Rome. The process of embellishing the structure and adding a few touches of perfection, albeit continued for years.

The structure’s impressive preservation owes to multiple rounds of restoration efforts spanning centuries. For starters, in the 13th century, the city council of Verona began allocating funds for the purpose. Thereafter, in the 14th century, Arena di Verona was also the venue for festivals and sporting tournaments organized by the nobility.

With Piazza Bra, the large square facing Arena di Verona witnessing a systematic renovation and expansion, subsequent restoration efforts and cleaning projects related to the amphitheater were undertaken in the 16th century. Considering its historical significance, local authorities have always allocated adequate funds for renovation and preservation.

Verona Arena is used as a concert venue [Photo: ©Vickey Maverick]

As such, in the centuries that have followed, the restoration efforts have continued at regular intervals, including vital modifications with respect to the original structure. In fact, some original sculptures, which once decorated Arena di Verona, are on display at the city museum at present.

Since 1913, the amphitheater has hosted the annual Arena di Verona Festival, except for the war-affected periods. In fact, in the post-war period, the concerts at the venue were followed by key figures in international cinema, thereby raising the venue’s overall profile.

The upper part of Arena Verona [Photo: ©Vickey Maverick]

More importantly, it is historic architecture like Arena di Verona coupled with impressive urban planning that has contributed significantly to the city being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. No wonder such a stage is being used to conduct the closing ceremony of a sporting event of global importance.

If the opening of Milano Cortina 2026 is anything to go by, the closing ceremony also promises a visual spectacle. Even as we wait for that, enjoy these photographs of Arena di Verona. Which one is your favorite?