Details have been released for the 16th Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival that takes in the spectacular 2000 year old amphitheatre near Antalya,Turkey. The fabric of the amphitheatre is amazing well preserved and its location alongside the ancient town together with an amazing capacity to hold 12,000 people make any occasions here very special.

The amphitheatre is located 7 miles inland (not overlooking the sea as many sites describe) and access is via a single road off the main road near Serik, but there will be plenty of local tour operators offering tickets and transport to the venue during the festival period.

This year the festival, which is organised by the State Opera and Ballet General Directorate, opens with a performance of Verdi's Aida by the Ankara State Opera and Ballet company. Aida is a regular on the schedule at the festival and has previously been directed here by the Italian Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini who used live horses on stage. The programme this year also includes performances of Romeo and Juliet by the Izmir State Opera company and Tosca by Prague State Opera.

The festival at Aspendos has been ranked as one of the top ten opera events in the world and represents great value for money when compared with similar events in places like Verona.