Verona, a city characterised by more than two thousand years of history, is nowadays the second centre in Veneto for its liveliness and for the importance of its economic activities; moreover it is an international tourist centre.
The sweet loops of the Adige, that flows through the city, and the low hills surrounding it at the northern side contribute to creating an harmoniously beautiful landscape.
Ponte Pietra
Due to its geographical position, Verona was probably an Etruscan and Euganean centre, but the first certain signs of civilization date back to the 4th century bC. During the Roman Empire it was an instrumental political and commercial centre, whose magnificent traces can still be seen: the Arena, the Roman Theatre, the Roman Arco dei Gavi, Porta Borsari, the archaeological area near Porta Leoni and the Scavi Scaligeri. This area, situated in the middle of the city, only some meters away from Piazza Erbe, became in the Middle Age centre of political and economic power. Here the marks of different historical periods are harmoniously moulded together: from Roman ruins to magnificent palaces of the 18th –19th century situated between medieval buildings, that flourished under the reign of the Signori Scaligeri, and rinascimental styled buildings.
A very interesting, yet a relatively unknown feature of the city are the walls, which in some parts are still incredibly well conserved; especially the most recent segments, where a great part of the perimeter still exists, conveying a particular aspect to the city that permits us to build on its history.
ArenaWhile there remains little of the double walls built by the Romans (only a little segment along the actual via Diaz and a piece of wall of the Mura di Gallieno near the Arena), the communal walls between Castelvecchio and Ponte Aleardi, which were rebuilt after the inundation in 1239, are still in a perfect state of conservation. The walls perimeter, built by the Signoria Scaligera and finished in January 1325, enclosed an area of 450 hectares. It was conserved by the Venetians in the 16th century and also in the 19th by the Austrians, who made Verona one of the four fortified cities of the "quadrilatero". The monumental gates, the walls and the fortification are testimony to the strategic importance of the city, well protected from external aggressions.
Moreover Verona has always been synonymous with culture. Numerous institutions, such as the Biblioteca Civica, the Biblioteca Capitolare (whose Scriptorium already existed in the 6th century aC), the Accademia Filarmonica (the most antique in the world), the Fondazione Arena, the Literary Society, the antique Academy of Agriculture, Science and Literature, the University and the Conservatory maintain its cultural liveliness.
Verona has hosted millions of visitors, many of them very famous, for example Dante, Mozart, Goethe, Ruskin. Nowadays Verona attracts people from everywhere thanks to the Arena, the myth of Romeo and Juliet and its precious beauty.
ArenaGAVI ARCH
This four-sided arch was built in the first part of the 1st century AD in honour of the Gavi family, important members of Veronese Roman society. It originally spanned Via Postumia, in what is now Corso Castelvecchio, on the site of the Clock Tower.
Demolished during French rule (1805), it was rebuilt alongside Castelvecchio in 1932. This monument, entirely in local white limestone, bears two inscriptions with the name of its builder, architect Lucio Vitruvio Cerdone, a rare occurrence in the ancient world.
The niches on the sides of the arch originally contained statues of Gavi family members.
PORTA DEI BORSARI
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.
MunicipioPORTA DEI LEONI
The Roman gate takes its name from a sarcophagus lid bearing two lions and now found in the gardens at the end of the street opposite S.Fermo.
The remains of one of the two polygonal towers can still be seen below the roadway, as can - next to a house - part of the facade that overlooked the city. This facade still contains a brick section from the oldest part of the gate (mid 1st century BC), faced with local white stone that was added halfway through the 1st century AD. In the prospect, slim spiral columns flank the large upper exedra.
PIAZZA DELLE ERBE
The Forum, centre of city life during Roman times, was situated here. The Piazza delle Erbe has continued to fill this same role for centuries: meeting place, home to the market, and also home to the city's administration.
The centre of the square contains the monuments that symbolise the different rulers of Verona: the most famous is the fountain, built using a Roman statue during Scaligeri rule and later known as the "Madonna Verona". On the far side of the square are the 14th century Gardello Tower and the Baroque Palazzo Maffei. The courtyard of the Palazzo del Comune leads on to the Lamberti Tower with its suggestive panoramic views over the city.
Piazza Erbe
PIAZZA DEI SIGNORI AND SCAVI SCALIGERI (SCALIGERI TOMBS)
The monuments in this square are linked to important periods in Verona's history.
Entering from Piazza Erbe, to the right is the Palazzo del Comune (built in the 12th century), and the Scaligeri palace that was once the Tribunal. On the far side is the Palazzo del Governo, also built by the Scaligeri; while to the left is the loggia by Fra' Giocondo (1476-1493), an elegant example of Renaissance architecture and home to the Council during Venetian rule.
The basement of the ex-Tribunal provides a suggestive archaeological journey, with remains that date from Roman times up to the 14th century. It also houses the temporary exhibitions held by the International Photography Centre, inaugurated in 1996.
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