Verona

//**Verona, Italy**//



__Population__: 263,964 (M 125,350; F 138,614)  __Province__: Veneto; Capital- Verona (VR) __Geography__: It is situated on the Adige River 60 miles (97 km) west of Venice. It is p redominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south. It is mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands. //total:// 301,230 sq km //land:// 294,020 sq km //water:// 7,210 sq km //note:// includes Sardinia and Sicily.

=//**History**//= The precise details of Verona's early history remain a mystery. The origin of the name Verona is also unknown. One theory is it was a city of the Euganei, who were obliged to give it up to the Cenomani (550 BC). With the conquest of the Vaecame Roman (about 300 BC) Verona became a Roman //colonia// in 89 BC, and then a //municipium// in 49 BC; Verona had the franchise in 59. The city became important because it was at the intersection of several roads. Stilicho defeated Alaric and his Visigoths here in 403. But, after Verona was conquered in (489 AD) the Gothic domination of Italy began; Theodoric built his palace there, and according to Irish legends that's what Verona was named after. It remained under the power of the Goths throughout the Gothic War (535–552), except for a single day in 541, when the Armenian officer Artabazes made an entrance. The defections that took place among the Byzantine generals with regard to the booty made it possible for the Goths to regain possession of the city. In 552 Valerian vainly endeavoured to enter it, but only when they were fully overthrown, the Goths surrendered it. =//**Art**//= The oldest Roman construction in Verona is Ponte Pietra, the stone bridge whose arcs have joined the two banks of the city for nearly two thousands years, standing as a timepiece to the birth of Verona. The Roman Theatre and the Arena (the third largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheatre in the world) testify to a glorious ancient past. The Medieval Basilica di San Zeno is truly the jewel of Italian Romanesque art with its pinstripes of pink and white stone, while the high towers and fortified bridge of Castelvecchio show the flair and artistic integrity of the Medieval Scaligere court. Thanks to the attentive and inspired work of architect Carlo Scarpa, Castelvecchio was transformed into a beautiful art gallery in the 1960s which now showcases masterpieces by such Renaissance greats as Pisanello, Mantegna, Bellini as well as many other beautiful artefacts from across the ages. A short walk from Castelvecchio, sits the exquisite Arche Scaligere where the tombs of the famous family are crowned with knights on horseback, seemingly ready, in all their stony glory, to charge in a Medieval joust. In the sixteenth century, beautifully detailed artwork began spreading across the facades of the buildings. Frescoes of great mythological scenes (many of which still exist today) transformed Verona into a magical painted city. The ancient Roman Forum (in the Medieval market square) with its Renaissance frescoes and cloud-scraping clock tower, is today the heart of the Verona. Here, in Piazza Erbe, between the fruit stalls and outdoor cafés, foreigners and Veronese mix in a magical symphony of sounds and colours. Many travellers of the past, from Goethe to Ruskin, have visited and fallen in love with the city, passionately filling endless pages with descriptions of the charms and beauty of Verona. The travellers of today are equally in awe. An overwhelming and precious centre of art and history, Verona is a city of infinite surprises and curious discoveries: the glorious statues, the delicate friezes that ornament the buildings, the frescoes that constantly change with the varying light, the ancient Roman inscriptions carved in stone, the medieval windows nestled in bright ochre walls, the brimming fountains and opulent gardens... all make an unforgettable impression on the hearts and minds of visitors to the city. =//**Culture**//= Verona is the perfect place to learn La Lingua Italiana while simultaneously immersing yourself in the art, culture, style and culinary traditions of Italian life. Walking through the streets of the city is a rich sensory experience as you pass by the palaces, churches, bridges and ancient stones that speak of an extraordinary history. Picture a great piazza with a Roman Amphitheatre at its centre. This is Piazza Bra, the heart of Verona. Here, between the porticoes and the ribbon of outdoor cafés, the Arena stands testament to the city's ancient past. On summer nights, the magical sounds of the open-air Opera performed here infuse the city with life and a sense of spectacle that is unique and unforgettable. Surrounded by green hills and the meandering Adige River, Verona has a special relationship with nature. Only a short distance from Lake Garda with its fjord-like landscape and Mediterranean vegetation, the lake influences not only the climate of Verona but also the lifestyle of its people. Nestled in the rolling hills of Valpolicella (a region famed for its production of quality wines ), Verona is perfumed by the surrounding countryside and the nearby alpine mountains - both of which, as they change through the seasons, affect a change upon the city centre. The romance of Verona is palpable. The unexpected surprises found around each corner and at the end of every cobbled street; the beautiful vistas of the surrounding landscape that can be glimpsed between the ancient buildings; and the warm amber glow of lights in the evenings, instantly remind all who visit here of the magical love story Romeo and Juliet, set in Verona by Shakespeare in his famous 16th century play. Verona's geographic position makes it the perfect departure point (by rail, road or air) from which to explore the rest of Italy. Excursions to other cities of art and culture can easily be arranged during your stay: you can reach Venice and Milan in one-and-a-half hours by train; Trento, Padova , Mantova and Ferrara in one hour; Vicenza and Brescia in half-an-hour. A fast train will get you to Florence in three hours and Rome in five. Verona's airport, just a few kilometres from the centre of town, provides quick and easy access to the rest of Italy and Europe. =//**Sport**//= The town has two football teams. Historically, the city's major team has been Hellos Verona, who is now in the second division of Italian football, Serie B. The other team, Chievo Verona is currently playing in Serie A. Hellas Verona won Italian Championship in 1984/1985 entering the European Cup the following year. Verona has a volleyball major team named Marmi Lanza Verona, now in Serie A1; and a basketball team named Scaligera Basket, now in Legadue. Verona has hosted the Football World Cup in 1990; has twice hosted the UCI Road World Championships, in 1999 (co-hosted with Treviso) and 2004. Verona has also hosted the baseball world cup in 2009 and the Volleyball World Cup in September–October 2010. =//** Architecture **//= The //Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore// is considered one of the great achievements of Romanesque architecture. The present structure is the 3rd on this site, built from 1123–1135, over the 4th century shrine to Verona's patron saint, St. Zeno (died 380). The façade dominates the large square, and is flanked with a beautiful 72 metres tall bell tower, which is mentioned by Dante in Canto 18 of Purgatory in the Divine Comedy. The weathered Veronese stone gives a warm golden glow and the restrained lines of the pillars, columns, cornices and the gallery with its double windows give the façade an air of harmonious elegance. The huge rose window is decorated as a Wheel of Fortune. The lintels above the portal have carvings of the months of the year. Each side of the doorway is embellished with 18 bas-relief panels of biblical scenes, and the inner bronze door has panels have 48 primitive but forceful Biblical scenes and depictions from the life of St Zeno. The meaning of some of the scenes is now unknown, but the extraordinarily vivid, barbaric energy of the figures is a superb blend of traditional and Ottonian influences. The interior of the church is divided into a Lower Church, occupying about 2/3 of the structure, and the Upper Church, occupying the remainder. The walls are covered with 12th and 14th century frescos and the ceiling of the nave is a magnificent example of a ship's keel ceiling. The vaulted crypt contains the tomb of St. Zeno, the first Bishop of Verona, as well as the tombs of several other saints. North of the church is a pleasant cloister. The church also houses the tomb of King Pippin of Italy (777–810). Sant'Anastasia. The small Romanesque //Basilica of San Lorenzo// is one of the finest and most important in the city. Its dates from around 1177, but is built on the site of a Paleochristian church, some fragments of which remain. The church is built of alternating tracks of brick and stone, and has two cylindrical towers, housing spiral staircases to the women's galleries. Inside, the atmosphere is rather severe, but is still quiet and peaceful. The striped bands of stone and brick and the graceful arches complement the setting. With a span length of 48.70 m (159.78 ft), the 1356 completed segmental arch bridge Ponte Scaligero featured at the time the world's largest bridge arch. //Santa Maria Antica// is a huge Romanesque church was the parish church of the Scaligeri clan, and is famous for the Gothic Scaliger Tombs. The //Duomo// is also a notable Romanesque church. Sant'Anastasia is a huge and lofty church built from 1290–1481 by the Dominicans to hold the massive congregations attracted by their rousing fundamentalist sermons. The Pellegrini chapel houses the famous fresco //St. George and the Princess of Trebizond// by Pisanello as well as the grave of Wilhelm von Bibra. The famous square also holds its art festival in May. =//**Famous Residents**//= The balcony of Juliet's house Arnoldo Mondadori, editor Aleardo Aleardi, a poet Paolo Bellasio, composer of the Renaissance; member of the Roman School Damiano Cunego, former world number 1 cyclist and former Giro d'Italia winner Giovanni Francesco Caroto, painter Catullus, Latin poet Franco Donatoni, composer Marc' Antonio Ingegneri, composer, teacher of Claudio Monteverdi Michele Sammicheli, architect Bartolomeo Tromboncino, composer of the Renaissance period Gigliola Cinquetti, singer who brought Italy its first Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 Sara Simeoni, former world high jump primatist and Olympic gold medalist Matteo Manassero, British amateur golf champion, 2009 Stefano Bernardi, baroque composer Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, fictional characters from the Shakespearian play //Romeo and Juliet//