The original structure of Palazzo Forti is datable back to the thirteenth century. The only evidence of this is the so-called "wing of Ezzellino da Romano". It is in fact related to Ezzellino III, tyrannical captain of the people who ruled Verona from 1232 to 1259, after his marriage to Selvaggia, the illegitimate daughter of Emperor Frederick II.
After the bloody death of Ezzelino (1259), the building was subsequently destroyed and transformed, especially during the Saligeri domination of Verona. The medieval structure has undergone three major interventions over time. The first in the half of the fifteenth century, after the acquisition by the Emilei family, that in 1416 moved to Verona from the estate of Montirone (near Brescia).
The Emilei transformed the building into a residential palace, with  boardrooms, libraries, gardens, courtyards, services etc ...

The second operation was in the sixteenth century; with the third, which took place in the eighteenth century, led to the renovation of the main front by the architect Ignazio Pellegrini, the palace became an important place for cultural, political and artistic meetings. Francesco Emilei, superintendent of the city, hosted in Napoleon I.

Ironically Francesco Emilei was then sentenced to death, for insurgency, by the same court led by Napoleon. And nothing worth the recommendation of the noblewoman Silvia Curtoni Verza, who lived with him a romantic love story. From the chronicles we deduce that in part the story of Tosca repeats, with a mock execution (but in fact true) and a suicide attempt by Silvia, which, however, will later bind to the poet Ippolito Pindemonte. Later Pietro Emilei, Carbonari member, in order to survive was forced to rent the main floor of the building to the Austrian Grand Ducal Command headed by General Radetzky. For the occasion, the house was enlarged and extended till Via Massalongo .
The period of the Austrian occupation was the one of most public resonance for the building. It was Pietro Emilei that, after a period of imprisonment in the fortress of Salzburg (he was accused of belonging to secret societies liberals), on his return home he sold the building in 1854 to Israele Forti, who ordered an extensive restoration. In 1937 Achille Forti, famous botanist and the last descendant of the family, left the palace bequeathed to the City of Verona, which transformed it into a modern art museum .

The building remained open for a little over a year. Following the events of the war it was used first by Academy of Fine Arts and Art School, then served as municipal office until about 1950. In 1966 some restoration work was undertaken under the supervision of prof. Licisco Magagnato, which brought to light the medieval structures. Meanwhile, but only for a few months, was reopened the museum, which however was finally closed (except for a few solitary exposure) until the '80s. From 1982 to 2011, the Palace hosted the Galleria d'Arte Moderna Palazzo Forti .

Since June 2012 it is home to the Opera Museum (AMO Arena MuseOpera), whose mission is the promotion and popularization of opera culture, through experience and the materials of the "centenary" Arena Opera Festival, renowned internationally.