Conceived as an outdoor arena inspired by Greek and Roman theaters and designed to host shows, concerts and mass gatherings, Arena Flegrea was inaugurated in 1952 years after its construction, due to World War II. Originally meant to be the summer venue of Teatro San Carlo, the first show hosted was Giuseppe Verdi's Aida, followed by many other excellent performances. Closed to the public in 1980, it was rebuilt starting in 1990 by the architect which originally designed it, Giulio De Luca. Since its reopening in 2001, the structure has hosted international artists such as Bob Dylan, Sting, Andrea Bocelli and many others