Verona

<< Veneto

Verona has always been a center of arts and culture and a thriving city since the time of the Romans. One of the reasons for its success is its position along the Adige river, near the mountains and Lake Garda, at the intersection of various roads. Even after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Verona remained one of the most important cities in Northern Italy. In 1135 Verona was organized into an independent comune, and later became a signoria, ruling over various territories of Northern Italy, but was ultimately defeated and submitted to Venice in 1405. Verona continued to flourish for the following centuries, despite the devastating plague of 1630 and, after a period of Austrian occupation, became part of Italy in 1866. Verona is now known all over the world for being the set of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and it’s a major tourist destination also thanks to its numerous remarkable attractions, works of art, and festivals.

✪ Verona Arena

The Verona Arena (Arena di Verona) is one of the best preserved Roman amphitheaters and it is till used to this day to host opera performances and concerts. It was built in the 1st century and it could host up to 30,000 spectators. Later used for military purposes, it survived wars, floods, earthquakes, and attempted demolitions. The arena was restored during the Renaissance and later it started being used to host various kinds of events. In the 20th century it became an renowned open-air venue for theatrical performances and concerts, and it has since also hosted sporting events.

✪ Piazza delle Erbe

Piazza delle Erbe is the historic main square of Verona, standing on the site of the ancient Roman forum. The center of Piazza delle Erbe is occupied by the Fountain of Madonna Verona, a 4th-century statue with medieval additions, and the square is surrounded on all sides by magnificent historic buildings. The eastern side is dominated by Palazzo della Ragione and Case Mazzanti, a group of medieval houses painted with 16th-century frescoes. Palazzo della Ragione is connected to Case Mazzanti with the Arco della Costa, an arch featuring an hanging whale bone. The elaborate Baroque facade of Palazzo Maffei closes the northern side of the square with the adjacent medieval tower called Torre Gardello. Meanwhile, the 14th-century loggia of Domus Mercatorum, that used to house the city’s merchants, is located along the western side of the square.

✪ Palazzo della Ragione

The imposing Palazzo della Ragione stands in between Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori. Most of the palace was built at the end of the 12th century, and it has been expanded numerous times. The tall Torre dei Lamberti, a medieval tower and one of the symbols of the city, stands on top of Palazzo della Ragione. The internal courtyard features the Scala della Ragione, a decorated Renaissance staircase, while the richly adorned Cappella dei Notai is the most impressive room in the palace. Palazzo della Ragione has hosted governmental and judiciary offices over the centuries, but now it houses the Modern Art Gallery Achille Forti (Galleria d’Arte Moderna Achille Forti), a rich collection of 19th and 20th century artworks.

✪ Piazza dei Signori

Piazza dei Signori is a historic square dominated by the Monument to Dante that stands in the middle of it, and surrounded by important buildings. The Renaissance Loggia del Consiglio is connected with the imposing medieval Palazzo del Podestà, former seat of local power decorated with an elaborate portal made in 1533. Loggia del Consiglio and Palazzo della Podestà together occupy the northern and eastern sides of Piazza dei Signori, while Palazzo di Cansignorio (also known as Palazzo del Capitanio) stands on the southeast. Originally built in the Middle Ages, this palace was reworked various times, but it preserves its original medieval tower. Next to Palazzo di Cansignorio is Palazzo della Ragione.

✪ Scaliger Tombs

The Scaliger Tombs (Arche Scaligere) are five elaborate funerary monuments standing next to the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria Antica. These Gothic tombs were built during the 14th century to honor some members of the ruling Scaliger family and feature various decorations and sculptures. Among the five tombs, two are placed on the external walls of the church, while the others are freestanding monuments with a sarcophagus covered by a baldachin.

✪ Verona Cathedral

The main religious building in Verona is the large cathedral (Duomo di Verona), an imposing Romanesque church. It was erected in the 12th century, after an earthquake destroyed the previous Paleochristian building and it features a decorated facade. The interior is richly adorned with Renaissance and Baroque artworks, including a painting by Titian. The Verona Cathedral is at the center of a large religious complex. Behind the apse is the Romanesque Baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte, and Palazzo del Vescovado, seat of the local diocese, while the medieval Church of Sant’Elena stands on the side of the main building. This church and the baptistery are connected with the cathedral and with each other via the decorated Portico of Santa Maria Matricolare. Also part of the complex is the Chapter Library of Verona.

✪ Castelvecchio

Castelvecchio is a large castle along the Adige river in Verona. It was built during the 14th century at the time of the signoria ruled by Cangrande II della Scala. After the Middle Ages, the castle slowly fell into decline until its restoration in the 20th century. Now Castelvecchio hosts the rich Castelvecchio Museum, a collection of paintings, sculptures, and weapons from different centuries. The castle is connected to the other side of the Adige river via the Castelvecchio Bridge.

✪ Roman Theater of Verona

The Roman Theater of Verona (Teatro Romano di Verona) is one of the best preserved structures of its kind in Northern Italy. It is located along the Adige river and it was built in the 1st century BCE. After being abandoned for centuries, it was restored in the 19th century. Now it is part of the Archaeological Museum at the Roman Theater (Museo Archeologico al Teatro Romano), that hosts a large collection of archaeological findings, mostly from the Roman age. Also part of the complex is the Church of Santi Siro e Libera, which was built during the Middle Ages over part of the theater.

✪ Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore

The Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore is one of the main religious sites in Verona and a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. It was built starting in the 10th century to replace a former Paleochristian building, and later reworked by Gothic and Renaissance additions. The church hosts various splendid decorations both on the exterior and the interior. The interior includes an ancient crypt and several artworks, most notably the San Zeno Altarpiece (Pala di San Zeno) by Andrea Mantegna. A monastery used to be located next to the church, but now only the cloister and a medieval tower survive.

Basilica of Santa Anastasia

The Basilica of Santa Anastasia is a massive medieval Gothic church in the center of Verona, mostly built between the 13th and 15th century. The unfinished facade is adorned with an elaborate portal, while the interior hosts various notable decorations and monuments. The most remarkable artwork in the Basilica of Santa Anastasia is Saint George and the Princess (San Giorgio e la Principessa) by Pisanello, a masterpiece of Gothic painting.

Chapter Library of Verona

The Chapter Library of Verona (Biblioteca Capitolare di Verona) is considered to be the oldest library in the world still operating today. It is housed in a building adjacent to the Verona Cathedral, and its history might have started during the final decades of the Western Roman Empire. The library hosts a rich collection of ancient documents, with the oldest dated one reporting the year 517. The library also hosts the Veronese Riddle, a rare example of document in the Late Vulgar/Early Romance language written in the 8th or 9th century.

Arco dei Gavi

Arco dei Gavi is an ancient triumphal arch that once stood on the Roman road Via Postumia. It was erected in the 1st century and it was used as a city gate in the Middle Ages. Greatly appreciated and influential during the Renaissance, it was demolished by the occupying French army in 1805. The original parts were later recovered and used to reconstruct the arch in 1932, and now it is located near Castelvecchio, close to its initial position.

Castelvecchio Bridge

Also known as: Scaliger Bridge (Ponte Scaligero)

The Castelvecchio Bridge (Ponte di Castelvecchio) is a fortified bridge over the Adige river and connected to Castelvecchio. It was built in the 14th century and it is considered a masterpiece of late medieval architecture, featuring what was at the time the world’s largest span. Destroyed by the retreating Germans during World War II, it was later rebuilt.

Ponte Pietra

Ponte Pietra is a Roman bridge on the Adige river erected in the 1st century BCE. It is the oldest bridge in Verona and was part of the ancient road Via Postumia. Over its long history, Ponte Pietra was damaged and repaired several times, but it was ultimately destroyed by the retreating German army during World War II. After the war the bridge was rebuilt using the original ancient materials and it is now one of the most iconic sights in Verona.

Piazza Bra

Piazza Bra is a large square in Verona adorned with trees and surrounded by various important buildings, most notably the Verona Arena. Next to the Verona Arena is Palazzo Barbieri, a Neoclassic 19th-century palace hosting the seat of the local municipality. Meanwhile, the southern side of Piazza Bra is delimited by the Gran Guardia, a large decorated building erected between 1609 and 1853 to host a military garrison, now used for exhibitions and events. The Gran Guardia is connected to the building of the Museo Lapidario Maffeiano through the historic city gates known as Portoni della Bra.

Teatro Filarmonico

The Teatro Filarmonico is the main opera house in Verona and one of the most important ones in Italy. It stands not far from the Verona Arena and adjacent to the Museo Lapidario Maffeiano. It was originally built in the 18th century, but it was destroyed twice and the current structure was only erected after World War II.

Museo Lapidario Maffeiano

The Museo Lapidario Maffeiano is a museum hosting a rich collection of ancient sculptures and archaeological findings mostly from Ancient Greece and the Roman age. It is hosted in the buildings adjacent to the Teatro Filarmonico and it was founded in the 18th century, making it one of the oldest museums in Europe.

House of Juliet

Verona is famous around the world for being the set of the play Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare, and the supposed residence of Juliet (Casa di Giulietta) is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. This is actually a medieval palace that was restored in the 20th century, and it features a courtyard with the iconic balcony and a statue of Juliet. Not far from there, a private medieval building is claimed to be the House of Romeo (Casa di Romeo).

Museo degli Affreschi “G.B. Cavalcaselle” alla Tomba di Giulietta

This museum, hosted in a historic monastery, houses a rich collection of frescoes taken from various churches and palaces of Verona and mostly dating from the Late Middle Ages, along with other artworks and archaeological findings. The main attraction however, is an ancient sepulcher traditionally known as Tomb of Juliet (Tomba di Giulietta).

Porta Borsari

Porta Borsari is a large ancient city gate dating from the 1st century and it once was the main entrance of Verona. The monument is well preserved and it is adorned with various historic decorations.

Church of San Fermo Maggiore

The Church of San Fermo Maggiore is an imposing medieval religious complex close to the Adige river. After various reconstructions and expansions of the original Paleochristian structure, the building is now composed of two different areas, the lower and upper church. While the lower church is simpler, the upper one is richly decorated with frescoes.

Giardino Giusti

The garden of Palazzo Giusti, known as Giardino Giusti, is a fine example of Renaissance landscaping. This 16th century garden includes variois sculptures and decorations and also features a hedge maze. The terrace gardens offer beautiful vistas of Verona.

Castel San Pietro

Castel San Pietro is a 19th-century military building erected on the site of a previous castle and located on a hill over the Roman Theater of Verona. The square in front of Castel San Pietro offers expansive views of the city.

Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum of Verona (Museo di Storia Naturale) hosts various different exhibits on geology, biology, and zoology. One of the most interesting parts of the museum is the large fossil collection, most of which comes from excavation sites around Verona. The museum also includes various prehistoric archaeological findings.

Parco delle Mura

The area of the historic city walls of Verona is now occupied by a nice park known as Parco delle Mura (“Park of the Walls”). Along with various ramparts, the park includes the two richly decorated Renaissance monumental city gates Porta Palio and Porta Nuova. Following the path going north among the trees from Porta Palio leads to another adorned city gate known as Porta San Zeno.