The urban legend of Arena di Verona

Once upon a time, there was a rich man who was imprisoned and sentenced to death because of slanderous accusation, no longer he hoped to be saved. On the eve of execution, in his cell he received the visit of the devil himself, and from him, he received a weird advice. Since the biggest desire of Verona was to have a huge theater, he would have had to build one, to gain freedom.

The condemned man remarked that no man was capable of so much in the short time of one night. So saying, however, he fell into the trap of the devil. Of course he had the power needed to build a building in one night, but on one condition...



as soon as the man sold his soul to the devil, one thousand demons began feverishly working to build a huge theater. The man, now regretting the deal, turned desperately to the Holy Virgin to ask her forgiveness, and spent his last night in prayer. Shortly before dawn, while the demons were about to complete the work, the bells of the Angelus suddenly pierced the sky still dark.

Touched by the sincere repentance of the condemned man, the Virgin had sent Her angels to stop the work. A huge amphitheater was standing in the city, beautiful but unfinished, it established the defeat of the devil, the realization of the desire of Verona and the liberation of the rich man.