The rooms in Italy
Arena di Verona
The Arena di Verona is a Roman amphitheatre on Piazza Bra in the centre of Verona, completed around AD 30 and among the best-preserved of its kind.
Lazzaretto di Bergamo
Once a 15th-century refuge for the sick, the Lazzaretto di Bergamo has been reborn as a spiritual concert space where history hums through every stone.
Volcano Extravaganza
The Fiorucci Art Trust's summer festival of contemporary art, performance and music on Stromboli, the active volcano in Italy's Aeolian Islands.
Planning a trip
Hearing music in Italy
Verona suits opera fans who can put up with discomfort for atmosphere. The unnumbered tiers are bare stone with no backrests, so bring a cushion, and pack picnic food in plastic because glass and knives are not allowed. Performances start at dusk, around 9 pm, and longer operas such as Aida and Nabucco can run well past midnight. The festival runs from mid June to mid September: 12 June to 12 September in 2026, and 12 June to 11 September announced for 2027. Bergamo suits quieter, candlelit listening across classical, jazz and world music.
The Lazzaretto opens seasonally for programmed events, typically May to September, with concerts in the evening, often at 21:00, and the data advises going at dusk. Daytime visits are possible on open-courtyard days, so check Visit Bergamo for dates. Volcano Extravaganza is the Fiorucci Art Trust's festival of contemporary art, performance and electronic music. Its confirmed editions run only to 2019, and past editions ran in July. Check with the Trust before planning a trip.
For Verona, the nearest airport is Verona Villafranca, with a shuttle bus to Porta Nuova station, then city buses to Piazza Bra. Trains reach Porta Nuova in about 1 hour 10 minutes from Venice and 1 hour 20 minutes from Milan. For Bergamo, take the train from Milan (40 to 50 minutes), then bus 1, 1A or 1C to via Bono and walk five minutes. Stromboli has no airport: take a hydrofoil from Milazzo (90 minutes) or Naples Mergellina (4 hours), and stay overnight.
FAQ
Questions people ask
When is the Arena di Verona opera season?
The festival runs from mid June to mid September. The 2026 season ran from 12 June to 12 September, and 12 June to 11 September is listed for 2027. Performances start at dusk, around 9 pm, and some run past midnight.
How do you get to the Lazzaretto di Bergamo?
Take the train from Milan to Bergamo, which takes 40 to 50 minutes, then bus 1, 1A or 1C from the station to via Bono. From there it is a five-minute walk. The Lazzaretto is on the southern edge of the lower town.
Is Volcano Extravaganza on Stromboli still running?
Not confirmed. The Fiorucci Art Trust's record lists editions from 2011 to 2019, and no later edition has been found. Check with the Trust before you plan a trip to Stromboli.