Macerata

The Sferisterio was built between 1820 and 1829, paid for by a hundred local families, as an arena for the ball game pallone col bracciale, then hugely popular; it is a long curved wall with tiers of seating facing a flat playing area, with an unusually wide and shallow stage as a result. The game faded, and from 1921 the arena was used for opera, which suits its acoustics; the Macerata Opera Festival has run each summer since 1967. The stage width means productions are designed specifically for it. The town above holds a university founded in 1290 and a compact brick centre.

What you actually see

• The Sferisterio - an 1829 ball-game arena converted to an opera venue.
• The wide shallow stage - a shape that shapes every production staged there.
• The summer festival - opera seasons running since 1967.
• The university town - a brick centre around a college founded in 1290.

When to go

July and August for the opera festival; the arena is otherwise visitable but quiet. The town is a normal working city outside the season.

Honest expectations

Opera nights are outdoors and can be affected by weather, with cancellations possible. Tickets for good seats sell early. Outside the festival there is little to draw a visit.

Nearby

Recanati lies northeast; the Sibillini rise west.