The name of this Italian city in the north of the country is probably familiar even to those who have never been to the Apennine Peninsula. It was here, according to William “our” Shakespeare, that the events of the famous tragedy of Romeo and Juliet took place. But not only the famous balcony, under which the passionate representative of the Montague family languished with love, attracts tourists to one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. The question of what to see in Verona is answered in detail by the UNESCO World Heritage Lists, in which the homeland of Shakespeare's heroes was included in 2000.
TOP 10 attractions in Verona
Walls of Verona
At different times, defensive fortifications were erected in Verona, some of which have survived to this day. They were built in the old part of the city. For tourists are of interest:
- Ruins of the walls erected during the Roman Empire. The city gates of Porta Borsari and Porta Leoni, dating from the 1st century, belong to the same era.
- The city wall of the 13th century, which runs from the center of Verona to the Aleardi bridge, is well preserved.
- On Saint Peter's Hill, you can see the walls built for Verona by the Della Scala family. A dozen watchtowers also remained from that era. The towers erected by the Austrians in the 19th century are the best preserved.
The walls of Gallien are also known, which were built in the III century to protect the city. The longest of them is the Republic Wall, which is almost a kilometer long.
Arena di Verona
The ancient Romans built amphitheaters in many cities, and therefore not only the capital's Colosseum is worthy of tourists' attention. The Verona Theater ranks third in Italy in grandeur of size and looks very impressive. The Verona arena was built in the 1st century AD. The cladding material was pink limestone from Valpolicella. The amphitheater could accommodate at least 30 thousand spectators, who were located on marble staircases-stands. In total, there were 44 spectator tiers at the Arena di Verona.
The amphitheater is perfectly preserved and, thanks to its acoustic abilities, hosts an annual summer opera festival. World stars perform on the stage of the arena, and experts say that it is in Verona that you should see the opera “Romeo and Juliet” in order to fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Shakespeare's tragedy.
By the way, concerts of contemporary performers are of no less interest. In 2012, Celentano played two nights in a row in Verona, and 30 thousand tickets were sold in just half an hour.
Ticket price: 10 euros for a guided tour and from 25 euros for a concert.
Juliet's house
Historians and connoisseurs of Shakespeare's work argue that the mansion in Verona, which is shown to tourists as Juliet's house, in fact, never was. But who can be stopped by boring evidence when it comes to one of the most romantic places on the planet?
A cozy courtyard with a balcony, under which young Romeo confessed his love to his chosen one, is filled with tourists from the very morning. The statue of Juliet enjoys the special attention of the guests, because, according to legend, the touch of the sculpture brings luck in love. In special mailboxes, you can leave a note with a message and wait for your wish to come true.
You can visit not only the courtyard, but also the mansion itself. It was built in the XIII century, and on the facade you can see the coat of arms of the Dal Cappello family, which served as the prototype of the Capulet.
The mansion offers guided tours.
Juliet's tomb
The crypt of the former Capuchin monastery in Verona houses another city landmark associated with Shakespeare's tragedy. The sarcophagus of red marble dating from the 13th-14th centuries, according to Verona legend, is the resting place of the young Juliet. The tomb is first mentioned in a 16th century novella written by Luigi da Porto. After that, a pilgrimage began to the sarcophagus, and for several centuries the unmarked grave was listed as the most popular place in Verona. Pieces were chipped off from the red marble for good luck, and the authorities were forced to move the sarcophagus from the monastery garden to the crypt of the church.
In 1910, a bust of Shakespeare was erected next to Juliet's tomb, and then a mailbox appeared where fans of Romeo and Juliet could drop their letters.
Ticket price: 4, 5 euros.
Castelvecchio
The powerful Gothic castle was built in the 8th century to defend the city from unwanted guests. The citadel became the seat of the Skala family and served as a fortification for noble nobles during popular revolts.
Castelvecchio Castle served at one time as a prison and an artillery school, and then was opened to the public. This happened in the 19th century, in parallel with the start of work on a thorough restoration of the medieval fortress.
The royal court of the Skala family is connected to the bank of the Adige River by a powerful drawbridge. Having crossed over it in the event of an enemy attack, the Scaligers could flee and end up in the Alps, and then in Germany.
The city museum reopened after restoration in 1970, and since then, its 30 halls have always been visited by many. The collection of exhibits acquaints guests with weapons, medieval knightly armor, ceramics and art objects - paintings, sculpture and jewelry.
Ticket price: 6 euros.
Archaeological Museum
Once upon a time, on the site where the premises of the Archaeological Museum of Verona are located today, there was a Roman theater. In the 10th century, houses and a temple were built over it, and the ancient building was completely hidden under a new cultural layer, but it was discovered as a result of excavations that began in the 20th century. The artifacts found by archaeologists became the basis of the collection of the Museum of Archeology.
The museum was opened in the building of the monastery of St. Girolamo. Among the exhibits are ancient Roman sculptures and parts of sidewalks covered with mosaics, tombstones and frescoes of the 16th century painted by Caroto, household items made of bronze and glass.
In the monastery church, it is worth seeing a triptych of the 15th century depicting the Madonna, and early Christian sculpture that has survived from the 4th century.
Ticket price: 6 euros.
Piazza delle Erbe
The square in the center of Verona, built on the site of the ancient Roman Forum, is a classic Italian square where all the main events in the life of the townspeople take place. But in addition, Piazza delle Erbe is extraordinarily beautiful and is considered one of the main attractions of Verona.
The square is decorated with magnificent buildings built in different years of the Middle Ages:
- Domus Mercatorum dating from at least the 12th century. Served as the residence of merchants and professional corporations.
- Maffei Palace, a baroque building with a balustrade decorated with statues of ancient gods.
- The 14th century clock tower, built at the direction of the Skala family.
- House Mazzanti, the facade of which was painted with frescoes in the 16th century.
- The 83-meter Lamberti Tower of the 12th century. Three centuries later, bells were installed on it.
In the center of the square, tourists are attracted by the fountain of the Madonna of Verona, made by the court sculptors of the Scala family in the 14th century. The fountain is decorated with a Roman statue from the 4th century.
Verona Cathedral
The chair of the city bishop of Verona is located in a church built in the first half of the 12th century. Three centuries later, the appearance of the building was somewhat modified, and it acquired late Gothic features.
The entrance portal of the cathedral was created by the master Nicolo and is decorated with a portico with twisted columns that rest on winged griffins. The interior of the cathedral is subject to the Gothic canons. The Duomo of Verona is decorated with red marble columns, pointed arches, blue vaulted ceilings with gold stars, and side chapels and altars are painted by the famous 16th century artist Giovanni Falconetto.
The most famous painting that adorns the cathedral is Titian's "Assumption of the Virgin Mary", painted by the great master in 1535.
Lake Garda
30 km west of Verona you will find one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy, which is very popular as a summer resort. Lake Garda is the largest in the Apennine Peninsula. Its surface area is 370 sq. km. Garda is navigable, and boating on the lake is a favorite pastime of tourists visiting this region.
The waters of Garda are home to some of the finest fish varieties - cod and trout, brown trout and burbot - and the coastal restaurants offer a variety of delicious fish dishes. The resorts of Sirmione and Bardolino, Desenzano and Malcesine have modern hotels where you can spend your vacation or weekend. On the shores of Garda, considered the center of summer fashion life in the northern part of Italy, shows of new collections of famous couturiers of Europe are often held, and you can relax with children in the amusement parks of Movieland and Gardaland.
Ponte Pietra
The first bridges in Italian cities were built in the era of Ancient Rome. Many of them have survived to this day almost unchanged. For example, Ponte Pietra in Verona. You can look at the crossing, which has existed since the 1st century BC, on the banks of the Adige River.
The bridge has an arched structure and is about 120 meters long. The ferry was originally called Marmoreus because it was made of marble, but later received its modern name due to alterations. During the reconstruction of Ponte Pietra, natural cut stone and brick were used.
Together with another bridge in Verona, Ponte Postumio, Ponte Pietra served as a frame for the ancient Roman theater, and the buildings constituted a single harmonious architectural ensemble.
During the Second World War, Ponte Pietra was destroyed during the bombing, but the surviving detailed images allowed the crossing to be restored to its original form. For the reconstruction, the original fragments of the bridge were used, raised from the bottom of the Adige River.
