Verona’s ancient theatre to be restored
Verona’s famed Roman amphitheatre, home to one of the world’s premier opera festivals, will be the first large beneficiary of a new Italian Government initiative to encourage private donations to protect cultural treasures.
Italian bank Unicredit and the nonprofit foundation CariVerona signed a deal yesterday with Verona’s mayor to restore the arena at a cost of 14 million ($22.5 million).
The project aims to secure the open-air Verona Arena, the third-largest Roman-era amphitheatre to survive antiquity, against erosion from rain, which has damaged the seating areas, stairs and modern-day electrical system.
The deal falls under the Government’s Art Bonus initiative that gives donors a 65 per cent tax credit for helping to restore or support Italy’s art treasures, archaeological sites and theatres. (source)