Verona is an ancient town, and is situated
near Lake Garda.
Verona was supposedly founded by Etruscans, but the first historical
records are from the 4th century BC. It became a notable political
and commercial center during Roman times.
Verona was flooded in 1239 and largely rebuilt. The city reached
the pinnacle of its political influence during the 14th century
as the seat of power of the della Scala family (also known as
the Scaligeri).
Verona is famous for its Roman amphitheatre, the Arena where
opera is now performed in the summer months. The Arena was built
in the mid-1st century AD on a site which at the time was outside
the city walls. The amphitheatre could host more than 30,000
spectators, and the most requested events were gladiators' fights
(against lions too). The round façade was originally
in white and pink limestone from Valpolicella, but during the
Middle Ages the Arena was used as a sort of quarry for other
buildings. The first interventions to recover its functionality
as a theatre were started during the Renaissance.
Verona was the birthplace of Catullus, Vitruvius, and the
town that Julius Caesar selected for his relaxing stays. In
its history many important names passed and events happened
that were relevant for the European history, like Theodoric
the Great, king of Ostrogoths, Alboin and Rosamunda, the Lombard
Dukes, Charlemagne and Pippin of Italy, Berengar I, Dante. Conclaves
were held here, as were important congresses. Verona was in
the travel diaries of Goethe, Stendhal, Paul Valéry.
Dedicated to the important Roman family of the Gavi,
was built in the 1st century AD, and is famous for having
the name of the builder (architect Lucius Vitruvius
Cordone) engraved on it, a really rare case in the architecture
of the epoque. It had been demolished by the French
troops in 1805 and was rebuilt in 1932.
The Saint Zeno Basilica
Basilica di San Zeno
San
Zeno Basilica, like many other Veronese churches,
is built with alternating layers of white stone and
bricks.The Saint Zeno Basilica (San Zeno) is a masterpiece
of Romanesque architecture. It was rebuilt in 1117
on the remains of an older church, following from
an earthquake.
Scaligero Bridge
Ponte Scaligero
Verona
Ponte
Scaligero is a medieval bridge built under Cangrande
II, of the Scaligeri family, and part of the old defence
system of Castelvecchio. It was once used as an escape
route in case of particular danger. The bridge was
destroyed by Germans during the World War II, in order
to delay the arrival of the Allied troops. Fortunately
the inhabitants of the city have decided to reconstruct
their bridge from which you can enjoy beautiful sunsets.
Romeo's House
Casa di Romeo
Relive
the tragic story of Shakespeare's unhappy lovers by
visiting some of Verona's fortified houses built at
that time, including the homes of both Romeo and Juliet.
Stone Bridge
Ponte di Pietra
The
oldest bridge on the Adige River which supposedly dates
back to the 1st century A.D., Ponte diPietra Stone
Bridge represents the entire history of Verona.
The two arches near the hills preserve the original
stone structure built by the Romans, while the two central
brick arches date back to the 16th century. The first
arch on the left with tower was built by the Della Scala
family in 1298. During Roman days the bridge granted
access to the Theater and the temple on the hill.
The Scaliger Arches
Arche Scaligere
On
the parvis of the 12th century S. Maria Antica church
are two funereal monuments of the Della Scala family,
both with equestrian figures on top. The most important
are the one dedicated to Cangrande, above the entrance
of the church; the monument of Mastino II, to the left
of the entrance; and, further back, the one dedicated
to Cansignorio. Gothic art achieves its maximum expression
in the Arches, with spires, columns, and bas-reliefs
of astonishing elegance and perfection.
The outer front, placed against the first construction
- entirely in brick - in the 1st century AD is all that
remains of this entrance to the Roman city in Via Postumia.Its
current name comes from the "borsari" (bursars)
who collected duties in the Middle Ages.The gate, in
local white limestone has two arches and above, a double
row of windows. The architrave bears an inscription
to commemorate the restoration of the city walls in
265 AD by the emperor, Gallieno.
It's no wonder that this is one of the most historic
and picturesque squares in Italy: in antiquity, it served
as a Roman forum; today, it contains many historic buildings,
sculptures with a popular and colorful market overflowing
with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Piazza dei Signori
Piazza dei Signori.
Piazza dei Signori Verona
The 15THcentury Loggia del Consiglio, the former assembly
hall of the city council, rises on Piazza dei Signori
behind the statue dedicated to the great poet Dante
Alighieri, guest of the Scaligeri family during his
exile from Florence. The style is typically Venetian-
renaissance and the façade is adorned in the
upper part with frescoes and statues of worthies born
in the city, like Catullus and Pliny, poet the first
and historian the second.
Dedicated to the important Roman family of the Gavi,
was built in the 1st century AD, and is famous for having
the name of the builder (architect Lucius Vitruvius
Cordone) engraved on it, a really rare case in the architecture
of the epoque. It had been demolished by the French
troops in 1805 and was rebuilt in 1932.
San
Zeno Basilica, like many other Veronese churches,
is built with alternating layers of white stone and
bricks.The Saint Zeno Basilica (San Zeno) is a masterpiece
of Romanesque architecture. It was rebuilt in 1117
on the remains of an older church, following from
an earthquake.
Ponte
Scaligero is a medieval bridge built under Cangrande
II, of the Scaligeri family, and part of the old defence
system of Castelvecchio. It was once used as an escape
route in case of particular danger. The bridge was
destroyed by Germans during the World War II, in order
to delay the arrival of the Allied troops. Fortunately
the inhabitants of the city have decided to reconstruct
their bridge from which you can enjoy beautiful sunsets.
Relive
the tragic story of Shakespeare's unhappy lovers by
visiting some of Verona's fortified houses built at
that time, including the homes of both Romeo and Juliet.
The
oldest bridge on the Adige River which supposedly dates
back to the 1st century A.D., Ponte diPietra Stone
Bridge represents the entire history of Verona.
The two arches near the hills preserve the original
stone structure built by the Romans, while the two central
brick arches date back to the 16th century. The first
arch on the left with tower was built by the Della Scala
family in 1298. During Roman days the bridge granted
access to the Theater and the temple on the hill.
On
the parvis of the 12th century S. Maria Antica church
are two funereal monuments of the Della Scala family,
both with equestrian figures on top. The most important
are the one dedicated to Cangrande, above the entrance
of the church; the monument of Mastino II, to the left
of the entrance; and, further back, the one dedicated
to Cansignorio. Gothic art achieves its maximum expression
in the Arches, with spires, columns, and bas-reliefs
of astonishing elegance and perfection.
The outer front, placed against the first construction
- entirely in brick - in the 1st century AD is all that
remains of this entrance to the Roman city in Via Postumia.Its
current name comes from the "borsari" (bursars)
who collected duties in the Middle Ages.The gate, in
local white limestone has two arches and above, a double
row of windows. The architrave bears an inscription
to commemorate the restoration of the city walls in
265 AD by the emperor, Gallieno.
It's no wonder that this is one of the most historic
and picturesque squares in Italy: in antiquity, it served
as a Roman forum; today, it contains many historic buildings,
sculptures with a popular and colorful market overflowing
with fresh fruits and vegetables.
The 15THcentury Loggia del Consiglio, the former assembly
hall of the city council, rises on Piazza dei Signori
behind the statue dedicated to the great poet Dante
Alighieri, guest of the Scaligeri family during his
exile from Florence. The style is typically Venetian-
renaissance and the façade is adorned in the
upper part with frescoes and statues of worthies born
in the city, like Catullus and Pliny, poet the first
and historian the second.