Verona Attractions, Italy

Amphitheater
The Roman Amphitheater (Arena) in Verona, one of the largest of its kind, was built in the reign of Diocletian (about A.D. 290). Of the outer wall only four arches on the north side have survived. With its 44 rows of seating it can accommodate some 22,000 spectators; from the top rows there are fine views. The overall length of the structure was 152m/176yd, its height 32m/16ft. In July and August a famous opera festival is held in the Arena.
Verona is part of the summer festival circuit which also includes Bayreuth and its Wagner operas and Salzburg. The Verona performances usually run from mid-July to mid-August.

Loggia del Consiglio (photo - right)
On the north side of the Piazza dei Signori stands the Loggia del Consiglio, one of the finest Early Renaissance buildings in Italy (by Fra Giocondo, 1486-93), crowned by statues of famous citizens of Verona in antiquity.

Piazza dei Signori
The short street to the left of the Torre del Comune in Verona runs east into the Piazza dei Signori (a name recalling the rule of the Scaligers), surrounded by palaces. In the center is a monument to Dante (1865). Recent excavations have uncovered Roman mosaics and other remains.

San Fermo Maggiore (photo - left)
From the Piazza delle Erbe Via Cappello, with the so-called Casa di Giuletta (Gothic, 13th century - Juliet's House with her balcony), and its continuation Via Leoni (on left, the Roman Porta del Leoni) runs southeast to the church of San Fermo Maggiore, with a Romanesque lower church (11th-12th century; 14th century wooden crucifix) and a Gothic upper church (13th-14th century), its facade beautifully decorated with marble. It contains a number of notable monuments and pictures by Pisanello and others. Immediately beyond the church is the Ponte delle Navi.

San Giorgio in Braida
West of Santo Stefano is the 16th century church of San Giorgio in Braida which has a beautiful dome by Sammichele. The altarpieces are by masters of the Veronese and Brescian schools. On the high altar is "The Martyrdom of St George" by Veronese. In a side chapel is a notable Madonna by Girolamo dai Libri.

San Zeno Maggiore
To the north of San Bernardino is the large Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore (11th-12th century), perhaps the finest Romanesque building in northern Italy, with a beautiful main front flanked by a slender Romanesque campanile (1045-1178) and the battlemented defensive tower (14th century) of a former Benedictine abbey. The bronze doors have Romanesque reliefs with Biblical and other scenes. The interior boasts an unusual timber roof (14th century) and beautiful Romanesque capitals, and in the aisles are frescoes of the 13th-15th centuries. In the choir can be seen a marble figure, ascribed to the 14th century, of St Zeno, bishop of Verona (d. 380), whose reliquary is in the crypt. On the high altar is a "Madonna with Saints" by Mantegna (1456-59) and on the north side of the church an elegant Romanesque cloister.

Tombs of the Scaligers
The passage between the Prefecture and the Tribunal leads to the church of Santa Maria Antica (12th century), with a Romanesque campanile. Adjoining it are the imposing Gothic Tombs of the Scaligers (Arche Scaligere), with the ladder (scala) which was the heraldic emblem of the family frequently recurring in the elaborate wrought-iron railings. Above the church door are the sarcophagus and a copy of an equestrian statue of Cangrande della Scala (d. 1329); to the left are seen the mural monument of Giovanni (d. 1359) and the sarcophagus of Mastino I (d. 1277). Within the railings, under a canopy, are the sarcophagi and equestrian statues of Mastino II (d. 1351) and Cansignorio (d. 1375).

Balcony of Juliet at Villa Capelletti (photo - left)
Verona is the setting of the story of Romeo and Juliet, made famous by William Shakespeare. Although the earliest version of the story is set in Siena, not Verona — the move was made in Luigi da Porto's Istoria novellamente ritrovata di due Nobili Amanti — a balcony falsely claiming historical connection to the fictional lovers has become a tourist attraction for lovers; the short passageway leading to the balcony is covered with slips of paper carrying their graffiti, and a bronze statue of Juliet stands under the balcony, one breast polished by those touching it for luck.

europe, map of europe, travel europe, 89 europe, europe tour, eastern europe, flight to europe, great britain europe, europe cruise, europe vacation, history of europe, travel europe france, map of western europe, britain europe general great, cheap flight to europe, europe car rental, europe news, wow europe, rail europe, map of eastern europe, western europe, europe trip, europe travel guide, backpacking europe, europe hotel, central europe, europe germany, europe travel package, nfl europe, eastern europe travel, europe ireland, europe train, cheap travel europe, blank map of europe,  europe river cruise, europe airfare, ski europe, cheap airfare to europe, europe country,  country in europe, holiday, visit europe, europe france, europe atlas, union europe, europe beach, cheap ticket to europe, united kingdom and europe,