Part of the definition of “grand opera” is “a lavishly produced opera”. Of course, you must first have an opera house that can hold that musical creation. We all know La Scala, Sidney and the New York Metropolitan. How about a “house” built in 30 AD?

Enter the Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheater of pink and white limestone that has somehow survived earthquakes and plunder till today. Used primarily in the summer for an opera festival it is probably the “Grandest” of Grand Opera houses.

It seats about 20,000 aficionados and is said to have almost perfect acoustics from every seat! So come and hear an unforgettable Turandot, Nabucco, Tosca and of course Aida!

www.arena.it

- Contributed by John Diglio, who travels to Italy annually with his friends. Their goals is to visit EVERY region of this magnificent country.

We would also like to mention Maria Filice, an ItalianNotebook reader, who is now a published author. What’s makes “Breaking Bread in l’Aquila” extra special is its backstory. It will be available on Tuesday, April 6th, on the anniversary of the Abruzzo earthquake. She was in L’Aquila (her late husband’s birthplace) in the aftermath of the earthquake when a woman begged her not to forget about the people of the city. She says it deepened her resolve to complete her book, as a reminder to readers of the Abruzzo region’s suffering. Net profits on the sale of the book will be donated to l’Aquila. Maria, our highest praise to you…. take a bow.