The Sferisterio di Macerata (Macerata Sphaeristerium) open-air stadium in Italy’s Le Marche region dates to the late 19th century. Locals in the town united to build a Roman-style arena that could be used to stage public spectacles and the popular game of handball, pallone col bracciale. They built an open-air venue with a 60-foot high wall measuring some 289 feet long. The stonewall is punctuated by a line of arches separated by 56 columns.
The space created is spectacular and in the early 20th century, the stadium began to be used to stage operas. In 1992, the Macerata opera association inaugurated the Sferisterio Opera Festival that runs during July and August during which three or four operas are performed. Today, the arena seats approximately 4,000 spectators. Watching a performance on a summer evening in such an unusual setting is one of the events of the Italian summer
In the summer of 2014, Macerata celebrates the 50th anniversary of its opera season at the Sferisterio with three classical melodramas. There are new productions of ‘Aida’ and ‘Tosca’, along with a reprise of ‘La Traviata’. All three operas will have female conductors.
Where: Sferisterio di Macerata, 65 Via Santa Maria della Porta- Macerata
Website: http://www.sferisterio.it/
