Verona has become a source of inspiration for talented people from different eras: Horace and Catullus, William Shakespeare and Dante Alighieri, Charles Dickens and Osip Mandelstam - the list will be endless. Their mood is understandable - this city combines a rich history, woven from the traditions of different eras and cultures, energy, saturated with passion and romance.
Foundation and development
The mention of the first settlers on the banks of the Adige River dates back to prehistoric times. Disputes about their origin do not subside until our time. But the heyday is unanimously recognized as the year of the elevation to the status of a Roman colony (89 BC).
Verona is based on an elevation among the Lessin hills, on a ledge in the form of a spear (from the Latin veru, -us - "peak", "spear"). The Italian word verone translates as "balcony". So the name Verona could mean a terrace in the shape of a spear or a ledge on a rock.
Excellent review gave superiority over the enemy. If we add to thisattractive geographical position at the intersection of the main roads of Rome, it becomes clear why this city became a desirable object for conquest. The Goths in the fifth century AD, the Byzantines and Lombards in the sixth, the Franks under the command of Charlemagne in the eighth (since 774) owned the city in turn, contributing to the architecture. Since the end of the eighth century, several families ruled the city: Romano in 1262 was replaced by della Scala. In 1387 power passed to the Visconti, then to Carrara and to the family of Venice in 1405, whose dominance lasted almost four centuries. 1796 - the year of the capture of Verona by Napoleon's army. Until 1866, the city alternately belonged to Austria and France, after which it passed to Italy.
The real disaster was the flood of 1882. Three dozen stone palaces were damaged, two and a half thousand residential buildings were destroyed, two bridges and all mills were washed away. A typhoid epidemic broke out due to clogging of sewer drains and drains, the water level rose by four meters.
The Second World War also changed the face of the city, a large number of cultural heritage sites were destroyed.
Modern Verona
In Verona, the capital of the province of the same name, more than 250 thousand citizens live permanently. City Day is celebrated on May 21st. The patrons are Saints Zeno of Verona and Peter of Verona. The centuries-old history, reflected in numerous architectural monuments, attracts tourists from all over the world. Verona demonstrates its sights to them with great pleasure.
PiazzaSconce
The largest square, Piazza Bra, is located in the center of the city, along with the square where the monument to King Victor Emmanuel II stands, the fountain of the Alps, presented as a gift by the sister city of Munich in 1975, a memorial to Italian partisans. In front of the entrance are the arches of Portoni della Bra, which were part of the city walls and have been preserved since the 14th century. The arches are reminiscent of the walls of the Moscow Kremlin in style. According to the available version, an Italian worked in the team of architects who created the fortress walls in Moscow, who embodied his ideas in the project.
Arena di Verona
Famous landmark of Verona - Arena di Verona. The amphitheater, which was created in the 30s BC. e., 50 years before the famous Colosseum, is located in Piazza Bra. This is a monumental building made of pink marble (size - 136 by 109 meters). Since its construction, the arena has seen a lot: gladiator fights and knightly tournaments, executions of heretics and theatrical performances. Today it is the traditional site of the opera festival, which has been held annually in the summer since 1913. Stunning acoustics attract top stars: Placido Domingo, Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, among other outstanding singers participated in the festival.
In 2012, Adriano Celentano held concerts here, who performed his favorite songs for three hundred thousand fans for two evenings.
The church of San Nicolò all'Arena adjoins the amphitheater
Piazza del Erbe
Piazza delle Erbe translated from Italianmeans area of grass. Here you can plunge into the atmosphere of different eras. The perimeter of the square is surrounded by the Gothic domus Mercatorum (or House of Merchants), the baroque palace of Maffei with the adjoining tower del Gardello, the house of Matsanti with frescoes by Albert Cavalila of the 16th century, the Lamberti tower, 84 meters high, erected in 1172.
The center of the ensemble is the fountain of the Madonna of Verona - one of the main symbols and attractions of Verona. The fountain was created in 1368, and the statue of the Virgin Mary was created much earlier, in 380.
In the evenings, the air of the square is filled with the aromas of fresh pastries, coffee and Campari liqueur, which are offered by restaurants and cafes located in the area. And during the day it's just a bazaar, lively and colorful.
Verona Cathedral
The beginning of the construction of the temple of Duomo di Verona is considered the second half of the 12th century, here is the episcopal chair. The original Romanesque appearance of the cathedral was expanded and built on, acquiring Gothic features and Baroque elements. The cathedral protects the most valuable works: "The Adoration of the Magi" by the artist da Verona, "The Assumption of the Virgin Mary" by Titian, "The Entombment" by the famous painter Giolfino.
Palazzo della Ragione
Palazzo della Ragione - The Palace of the Mind (from Italian). Built in 1196 to accommodate magistrates. During the Middle Ages, it was the largest building in Verona. Visitors are delighted with this landmark of Verona (Italy). Reviews mention the beauty of the courtyard, the Gothic staircase leadinginside, to the museum with an exhibition of contemporary art.
Justi Garden and Palace
Palazzo e Giardino Giusti bears the name of the creator's family (Verona Giusti family) and is rightfully recognized as one of the best park areas in the country. The palace and the garden were erected in the 12th century, and centuries later, as a result of reconstruction, a beautiful English-type park was obtained with many flowers, centuries-old citrus trees, in the shade of which Emperor Joseph II, Mozart, Goethe found shelter. From the terraces of the Giardino Giusti, a breathtaking panorama of the city and the sights of Verona opens up. Photos can be taken endlessly.
Ponte Pietra
Ponte Pietra (Italian for Stone Bridge) is a 120-meter bridge across the river. First built around 89 BC. e. from wood. It acquired its present appearance in 1508 with the help of the architect Fra Giocondo.
Castelvecchio
Castelvecchio (Italian for Old Castle) was built in the 14th century as a fort. The architecture of this landmark of Verona corresponds to the purpose - a simple and strong red brick without decorations, six towers around the perimeter. In different years it served as a prison, an armory, an artillery school. Since 1923, the Museum of Painting, Sculpture, and Medieval Coins has been operating in the castle. Connected to the opposite bank by the Scaliger Bridge.
Scaliger Bridge
In ancient times, the Ponte Scaligero bridge provided access to the fortress. Ruling Verona Can Grande II della Scalahad a reputation as a tyrant and was popularly nicknamed the Mad Dog. In order to protect himself by providing an escape route in the event of a riot, he ordered the construction of this bridge. In 1355 the architect Guglielmo Bevilacqua completed his work. According to legend, the architect arrived at the opening ceremony on horseback, which would have allowed him to flee in the event of a bridge collapse. Contrary to fears, the construction turned out to be very durable and functioned perfectly until the end of the 18th century, when part of the towers was destroyed by French troops. What was started by the French was completed in 1945 by the German army, which blew up the bridge during the retreat. The restoration was completed in 1951. Now the bridge has three spans with a total length of 120 meters. For the reconstruction, they used the usual Verona red brick and white marble. This is a landmark of Verona, the photos of which are simply wonderful due to the excellent view and river landscapes.
Juliet's House
The Trump Card of Verona is a tragic love story described by William Shakespeare. Even though the famous characters are the author's invention, the authorities of Verona understood how to capitalize on this work and decided to create the most visited attraction in the city of Verona. Juliet's House (Casa di Giulietta), built in the 13th century, was owned by the dell Capello family for a long time. The consonance of the surname with the name of the main characters of the play served as a reason to present it as a prototype of the place for describing passions. In 1907, the house was acquired by the City Council of Verona to house the museum. Movie "Romeo and Juliet"published in 1936, became the impetus for the start of reconstruction, as a result, the building and the courtyard with a balcony acquired a resemblance to paintings. Later, in 1972, a statue of Juliet appeared, cast in bronze, touching whose chest is considered a guarantee of good luck in love. The museum was officially opened in 1997 and today presents an exhibition of works of art on the theme of immortal creation.
Castle of St. Peter with an observation deck
Piazzale Castel San Pietro was built in the eighth century on the hill of the same name San Pietro. It is a fortification with an ideal vantage point that served as a military residence until the 19th century. The army under the command of Napoleon caused decent damage, destroying part of the castle, the church and the watchtower. The reconstruction of the building continues to this day, with plans to open a new museum.
Castle Square attracts tourists with its views. This landmark of Verona, reviews of which guarantee positive emotions from a visit.
Church of St. Anastasia
The Dominican friars, whose order today owns the Chiesa di Santa Anastasia temple, designed it in 1290, construction was completed in 1400. The church is named after the Christian Saint Anastasia, the Resolver of Patterns, who relieved the torments of the prisoners. Burnt at the stake in 304 in Sirmium.
The church is decorated with marble columns, bas-reliefs with episodes from the New Testament, ornaments, statues of "St. Anastasia's hunchbacks". The floor is covered with colorful marble mosaics from the 15th century.
Basilica and Abbey of Saint Zeno
Basilica e Abbazia di San Zeno was a complete monastic complex with a palace, church and towers. The invasion of Napoleon destroyed the abbey, and only the Basilica of St. Zenon has survived to this day - a real masterpiece created in the 12th century. The relics of the first bishop of Verona are kept here.
Of course, it is impossible to get around all the sights of Verona in one day. And yet, if you are limited in time, you should not deny yourself the pleasure of getting to know this wonderful city. Even impressions received within a short period will leave a pleasant aftertaste.
So, let's see the sights of Verona on our own. 1 day is not enough, but even during this time you can do a lot: after passing through the amazing arches of Portoni dela Bra and passing Piazza Bra, we get to the Arena di Verona. Then along the Mazzini shopping street we go to Juliet's house. Having stood on the famous balcony, to the right of the street. Mazzini we find Piazza del Erbe with the statue of the Madonna of Verona and the tower of Lamberti. Having looked into the church of St. Anastasia, we go to the Ponte Pietra bridge and cross to the other side. After ten to fifteen minutes of a quiet walk, we find ourselves in the gardens of Giusti. Further along the Ponte Nuovo bridge (New Bridge) we return to the Arena di Verona, inspect the castle-museum of Castelvecchio. At the end - dinner at a restaurant in Piazza Bra with a fantastic view of the Arena.
A map of the city of Verona with sights will help in building the route. You can use guidebooks, fortunately in any city that has interesting places for tourists, there is no shortage of such booklets.
If you can’t choose the sights of Verona on your own, you can ask for help at the tour desks that offer tourist routes for every taste - from a walk through the center to a trip to Lake Garda. There is also a wide selection of wine tours, and families with children will enjoy a visit to the Gardaland, Movieland amusement parks, the aquarium and the water park.
