Piazza Brà

Piazza Bra is so named for its size. The name derives from the Longobard word "Braida" or "large". Only in the Middle Ages was the square surrounded by walls, initially these only included the Amphitheater, and only from 256 AD The conformation in the square or popular meeting place began in the 16th century but only in 1770 was the first part of the paved sidewalk called "Liston" (a bourgeois meeting place) created. Until 1860 the square will see different conformations until it reaches the current state. At present it is possible to admire: To the North-West the "Liston" (1770), a Venetian term indicating a pavement composed of long slabs of marble that favors walking and bourgeois encounters. On the Liston you can admire the Honoriji palace. Work of the famous Veronese architect Michele Sanmicheli (finished around 1555). To the north the square is occupied by the Roman amphitheater called "Arena" built at the beginning of the 1st century. To the east is Palazzo Barbieri (1848), the current seat of the Municipality of Verona. Neoclassical palace, owes its name to the engineer who designed it. The rear rotunda was built in the last post-war period (1950). To the south the space is occupied by the Gran Guardia, a building begun in the Venetian era (1609) and finished under the Austrian domination of the city (1853). The palace was originally intended to serve as a venue for the Venetian troops. Portoni della Bra were built in the Viscontea period (around 1390) to complete a covered passage that would connect Castelvecchio to the walls through a wide moat. The building of the Verona Philharmonic Academy joins the door of the Bra and delimits the "Liston" with its gallery of columns.

Arena di Verona

The Roman amphitheater called "Arena" was probably built at the beginning of the 1st century between the end of the reign of Augustus until the beginning of that of Claudius. The Amphitheater was included for the first time within the Roman city walls by the emperor Gallienus (around 265). Born for the gladiatorial games it was abandoned with the advent of Christianity as a state religion and was partly destroyed by the earthquake of 1117. Used for summary executions and few popular demonstrations in the Middle Ages it was often used as a quarry for the construction of new religious buildings , private or power. At the end of the 16th century, thanks to the rediscovery of the classic monuments, restoration work began which continued on and off until 1820 when the amphitheater itself was freed by the tenants and the new layout of the Square began. In 1913 there was the first opera performance in the Arena, Giuseppe Verdi's Aida which contributed to the birth of the largest opera house in the world.

Palazzo Barbieri (Comune di Verona)

The building of the Gran Guardia Nuova (or Palazzo Barbieri) is a neoclassical building that was built by the municipal congregation to a design by the architect Giuseppe Barbieri and remained occupied until 1866 by the command of the Austrian garrison (L'Imperiale Regio Comando di Città and Fortress). The construction, begun already in 1836, proceeded rather slowly and was completed, at least in the main body facing the Piazza Bra, only around 1843 by the engineer Francesco Ronzani, after the death of Barbieri. In 1866 with the annexation to the Kingdom of Italy it was chosen as the seat of the municipal offices. Bombed during the Second World War it was later rebuilt and enlarged with the rear rotunda (1950). It is currently the seat of the Municipality of Verona.

Piazza delle Erbe

Piazza Erbe
It was born in the Roman era as the Forum of the Roman civitas or political, religious and commercial center (50 BC). Crossing of the two main Roman roads: Cardo Massimo and Decumano Massimo (the ancient Via Postumia). Inside the square it is possible to admire: North-west: Palazzo Maffei (around 1668) which rises above the ruins of the Roman Capitol dedicated to the divinities Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. Torre del Gardello (44 meters). Built in medieval times (1200) it was equipped only in 1400 with a bell and later in the time of the first public clock in the city. Colonna di San Marco (1523): Column in white marble on top of which stands the Leone di San Marco, symbol of the Republic of Venice and reconstruction of the nineteenth century. Towards the North: Case Mazzanti (around 1200), born in the Middle Ages as grain warehouses, will undergo several structural changes until around the 1500s. Interesting frescoes with a mythological theme. Palazzo della Ragione, initially for private use, became Palazzo del Comune (around 1200) and the headquarters of the Banco di Giustizia. Following various uses over time, today it is the site of the Achille Forti Modern Art Gallery. Torre dei Lamberti, is an 84 meter high tower dating back to the Middle Ages. The family that began the construction, precisely Lamberti was exiled from the city and in 1140 the tower became a civic use and had two bells. The current size was reached in 1471. Arch of the Coast: Arch from which hangs a rib of Balena (believed to be from the Devil in medieval times). Southwards: The Merchants' House represented the arts and the guilds of the city and in the aristocratic era trade and manufacture. At the Center of the Square: The Fountain of Madonna Verona (1368), surmounted by a Roman statue of 380 AD The Roman Capital where the Pretori were sworn in and the Podestàs were established by ceremony. To the East: Gothic Column with a 1401 Visconti-style shrine

Casa di Giulietta

Ponte e Castello di Castelvecchio

The Ponte di Castelvecchio (or Ponte Scaligero) is a fortified appendix of the medieval castle of the same name. It was wanted by Cangrande II della Scala in 1356 as a possible escape route to the Trentino area. In 1802 the French of the Napoleonic army, being the city divided on the opposite side with the Austrians, decided to modify the bridge with a new structure able to accommodate some batteries of cannons. The bridge was later rebuilt by Emperor Francis I of Austria and remained standing until the end of the second wave war when it was blown up by the retreating Germans (1945). The post-war reconstruction ended in 1951 was expertly managed, on graphic and photographic evidence, wanting to restore the historical bridge thanks to the engineer Minghetti and the architect Libero Cecchini.

Castle

After the revolt led by his half-brother Fregnano, Cangrande II in 1354 (he was no longer considered safe in the city), he built a castle and a bridge over the Adige. The construction of the castle was entrusted to Guglielmo Bevilacqua but Cangrande II lived there for a short time, since on December 14th 1359 he was killed by treachery by some assassins hired by his brother Cansignorio, who succeeded him in the domain of Verona. With the fall of the Scaligeri, the castle was transformed into an urban fortress and later into the school for artillery and genius officers and this was its destination both during the occupation by the Visconti and in the four centuries of domination of the Serenissima Republic. Under French rule and later under Austrian rule, the castle became a strategic fortress to quell the frequent popular uprisings. The destination for an art museum took place in 1920-1930. The castle is formed by three distinct wall perimeters, in the large courtyard, today the access to the Museum, was the garrison, the large space served as a training ground for soldiers and was closed on three sides by walls. The first was called the clock tower, the second was that of the drawbridge, the third filled the corner and the fourth was to protect the wall towards the river. The bridge rises in a stretch of the Adige. Castelvecchio is a masterpiece of engineering, the best of that period (three hundred). The bridge was blown up by the Germans in retreat in 1945. In 1951 the bridge of the castle was inaugurated with a reconstruction conforming to the original.

Arche scaligere

Porta Borsari

Porta Borsari is a Roman door dating back to the first century AD Since the antiquity of Verona, it was a crucial point of land and water transport in north-east Italy, being the meeting point of four consular roads: Via Gallica, Via Claudia , Augusta, the Vicum Veronesium the Via Postumia. The latter was accessed through the Porta Borsari. In Roman times it was called Porta Iovia because it is located near a temple dedicated to Giove Lustrale, while the current name derives from the "scholarships" the customs officials who in the medieval age, placed on the door, collected duties on incoming goods. What remains today is only the external white limestone façade. It is important to inscribe in the architrave over the two forniers, which reminds the works of restoration and extension of the urban wall, wanted by Emperor Gallieno.

Piazza dei Signori

Piazza dei Signori (or Piazza Dante) dates back to the Middle Ages with the advent of the Scaliger lordship. In the square it is possible to admire: North side, Palazzo del Podestà (second half of the 14th century) was inhabited by Alberto I della Scala, dwelling initially dedicated to the lordship of the city. In the Venetian period it became the seat of the offices of the podestà. West side, Loggia of Fra Giocondo (15th century). It served as the seat of the Council of Powermen who ruled the city under the control of the Podestà and Capitanio. Casa della Pietà is a simple building for private use of medieval origins that was reworked several times until the 15th century. In 1400 there is news that it was owned by a notary. South side, Domus Nova (residence of the judges), was residence of the Podestà, seat of the city councils and residence of the Venetian judges. Collapsed in the sixteenth century, it was rebuilt in its present state. East side, Palazzo di Cansignorio was the political seat for both the Scaligeri and the Venetians. The building dates back to the 16th century, with a facade designed by the architect Michele Sanmicheli. The Tower that is visible is part of the original Scaligeri palace. At the center of the square is a statue (1865) by Dante Alighieri, who lived in Verona and I dedicate the third canto of Paradiso to Cangrande della Scala, his friend and protector.

Tomba di Giulietta

Dating back to 1937, Juliet's Tomb is housed in an ancient convent of Capuchin friars from the 13th century. Here, the head of the Veronese museums, Antonio Avena wanted the sepulcher of the young Capuleti to be arranged, after that, already at the beginning of the nineteenth century, an empty sarcophagus of red marble positioned in the garden of the former convent had been considered the burial place of the Shakespearean heroine. Nearby, the G. B. Cavalcaselle museum exhibits Veronese frescoes of various dating. (Description taken from the province website).

Teatro Romano

The Roman Theater was built around the 1st century BC at the base of the San Pietro hill. The theater after the Roman era was gradually abandoned and then forgotten so much that over the centuries private and religious buildings were erected (some of which were demolished during excavations in the mid-1800s). The excavations have brought to light the cavea and the steps, arches and remains of the scene. On one side you can see the small church of Santa Libera from the 15th century. The theater currently houses the Archaeological Museum of Verona and theatrical performances during the summer.

Chiesa San Zeno Maggiore

San Zeno is the basilica dedicated to the patron saint of Verona. The original nucleus dating back to the 4th century, reached its present form in the X-XI, following numerous interventions. On the facade, in the middle, there is a rose called the Wheel of Fortune that depicts the alternate human events: the man on the throne, which then falls, continually crushed by the misfortune and then resumes and goes on creating the Wheel of Fortune. The protium, adorned with sculptural decorations, at the bottom is supported by two columns resting on lions, church guardians. The portal is an authentic masterpiece, consisting of 48 square bronze figures, 24 per leaf, depicting scenes from the life of Christ and the Old Testament. Also worthy of note are the bas-reliefs located at the sides of the portal with sacred and profane subjects concerning King Teodorico. The whole basilica is subdivided into three levels of height, from below: the Crypt, the central part, and the Presbytery. In the Crypt is guarded the body of the saint, inside a sarcophagus at sight. The central part is three naves, bordered by powerful crown-shaped pillars alternating with Corinthian columns. The Presbytery, accessible through two staircases, houses one of the illustrious masterpieces of Andrea Mantegna, the Pala di San Zeno.

The square

Piazza San Zeno is actually a Roman-era place outside the city walls of the same era. Place of origin of Christianity of the city was born with the creation of the basilica and the monastery of San Zeno in the 9th century. In the same area there is a small church dedicated to San Procolo (V century) and therefore older than the basilica. The basilica was enlarged in the 13th century and a tower for the abbey was built at its side.

Chiesa Santi Nazaro e Celso

Porta della Vittoria Nuova

Chiesa San Fermo Maggiore

Chiesa San Giorgio in Braida

Chiesa San Giovanni in Valle

Chiesa San Procolo