Ancient Roman Arena Gets Modern Accessibility Upgrade for 2026 Olympics

Verona’s historic Roman Arena is undergoing a significant modernization to improve accessibility ahead of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, where it will host both the Olympic closing ceremony and Paralympic opening ceremony.

Built in the 1st Century, the iconic amphitheater predates Rome’s Colosseum by decades. Throughout its 2,000-year history, the Arena has served various purposes – from gladiator fights and exotic animal hunts in Roman times to a Medieval marketplace, and most recently as the venue for Verona’s renowned opera festival. However, despite its various transformations, the Arena has never been properly accessible to people with disabilities or those needing mobility assistance.

“This is an ancient monument that is some 2,000 years old, that remains active and hosts audiences,” said architect Giulio Fenyves, whose Milan studio designed the new safety and accessibility features. “The occasion of the Olympics has made it possible to reconsider a series of logistical aspects, including facilitating the entry and exit, precisely because it continues to host major events with thousands of people.”

The upcoming Olympic Games will bring approximately 11,000 spectators to the Arena for the February 22 closing ceremony, with nearly 10,000 expected to attend the Paralympic opening ceremony on March 6. These high-profile events have created the impetus for a comprehensive accessibility overhaul.

The renovation is part of a larger €18 million ($21 million) project that improves accessibility throughout the area surrounding the Arena. The initiative is being overseen by Simico, the government agency responsible for Olympic infrastructure. Beyond the Arena itself, the project extends to making a full kilometer stretch of sidewalks from Verona’s main train station to the Arena safer for wheelchair users and those with strollers by adding curb ramps. New dedicated bike lanes are also being constructed.

For Paralympians participating in the Parade of Athletes, the route up Corso Porta Nuova, across Piazza Bra, and into the Arena has been significantly upgraded to accommodate people with mobility issues. The improvements are being carefully coordinated with officials responsible for preserving the historic monument while ensuring compliance with current accessibility legislation.

“The new elements must be integrated in the most delicate and harmonious way possible to a monument that is both robust and fragile at the same time,” Fenyves explained.

Inside the Arena, the centerpiece of the renovation is a wheelchair-accessible ramp constructed with pre-rusted steel and the same distinctive Prun stone from the Lessinia hills above Verona that the Romans used to build the original structure. This local stone, which gives the Arena its characteristic pinkish-yellow hue, contains fossilized shells – remnants of a prehistoric sea that once covered this region now known for its rolling hills and vineyards.

The ramp is designed to be removable, but project manager Paolo Zecchinelli expressed hope that it will be retained as a lasting legacy of the Games. Until now, people with wheelchairs or walkers could only approach the Arena via a natural slope leading down from the adjacent Piazza Bra.

In addition to the permanent ramp designed to blend with the Arena’s original features, the local organizing committee is planning a temporary ramp to accommodate not only disabled spectators and athletes but also the elderly, families with children, and anyone needing assistance.

The renovation also includes replacing a railing along the Arena’s top level that was built in the 1950s and meant to be temporary, as well as adding new handrails at varied heights on internal stairways and at the 72 entrances to the tiered seats. The city is renovating bathrooms, while the infrastructure company is constructing new ramps to make them more accessible.

Work will continue after the Olympics and Paralympics, including the installation of an elevator that will allow people with limited mobility to reach the Arena’s uppermost level, either to watch performances or enjoy the panoramic view of the surrounding hills.

“A part will remain as a gift to the city, which will help this beautiful monument to be more accessible both to people who tour it and those who attend opera performances and other concerts,” Zecchinelli said.

The upgrades represent a significant step forward in making one of Italy’s most iconic historic venues accessible to all visitors, ensuring that the 2026 Winter Games leave a lasting positive impact on Verona’s cultural heritage.