VERONA - Main monuments

Verona's important geographic position has always facilitated commerce, attracting surrounding populations and transforming Verona into a meeting point and melting pot of various ethnic groups.

The Romans in Verona, raised to the rank of Roman City in 49 A.C., built grandiose works designed to last millennia: the Amphitheater, called the Arena, built in the 1st century A.D.; the Gavi Arch also built in the 1st century A.C. in honor of the Gavia family; Porta Borsari dating back to the 1st half of the 1st century A.D. Ponte Pietra, from the 1st/2nd centuries A.D., the first monumental construction in Verona, the Roman Theatre carved out from the slopes of S. Pietro hill and dating back to the end of the 1st century A.C., Porta Leoni where we can admire the part of the façade facing inwards towards the city, the bases of two polygonal towers and other foundations that were part of the fortified gate. Piazza Erbe, once the Roman forum, became the site of Communal offices and Merchant's Associations. The Palazzo Comunale rises between Piazza Erbe and Piazza dei Signori end encloses Cortile Mercato Vecchio with the 15th century Scala della Ragione and the majestic Torre dei Lamberti. The center of the Piazza presents an admirable marble canopy called the Capitello and the handsome Madonna Verona Fountain, built by Cansignorio and partly using Roman remains. Piazza dei Signori contrary to "mercantile" Piazza delle Erbe, became an extension of the Prince's Palace, used for ceremonies and parades. The Palazzo Comunale was soon flanked by the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, by the red Plazzo di Cangrande next to the gothic Arche Scaligere (funeral sarcophagi for the dynasty dating from the 14th century) and the Loggia del Consiglio (15th century). Castelvecchio was the impressive fortified residence built by Cangrande II in the 14th century.

CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES

S. Zeno, an 8th century Benedectine monastery, preserves its cloister, tower and relics from the reign of Otto (the bronze panels of its doors) and from the Renaissance (the Mantegna triptych). San Bernardino, a Friar's Minor convent, is enriched by Renaissance cloisters. San Lorenzo in an example of a Po Valley city church with frontal towers and galleries. SS. Apostoli is the church connected to the paleo-christian Sacellun (5th century) of Saints Teuteria and Tosca. The Cathedral complex is formed of a series of basilicas: the paleo-christian Capitular Cloister, the remains of the Carolingian basilica (8th-9th century) called Santa Maria Matricolare, Sant'Elena, S. Giovanni in Fonte and the current Duomo Maggiore (12th century) with a wealth of sculptures, paintings and architectural treasures. Santa Anastasia, a Domenican basilica, is the home of the fresco masterpieces by Pisanello and Altichiero and the holy water stups called "Gobbi". Santo Stefano, built on a paleo-christian body, preserves the sole Verona example of a double walkway in the crypt and on the upper level. San Fermo, first a Benedictine and then a Franciscan convent, was built in memory of martyrs Fermo and Rustico. It is rich with evocative cloisters and built on two levels. The upper basilica contains Pisanello's annunciation.

ROMEO AND JULIET

The Capuleti House rises in Via Cappello. It still contains an original cap, hewn in stone, emblem of the family and where Romeo met his love Juliet. Love at first sight, the triumph of Love. Romeo's House is not very far from that of his lover and in fact is near the site where the Scaligeri family built their "Funeral Sarcophagi". Their Tomb is located in the Church of the S. Francesco al Corso Convent, site of the Fresco museum.

LAKE GARDA

The most Mediterranean of the Italian alpine lakes, with its breathtaking colorful scenery and beautifully muted light, makes it a unique place to enjoy a holiday at any time of the year. The banks of the lake, studded with villages and little towns, add man made charisma ot eh charm of the natural environment.

 

From the historic splendour of roman settlements and medieval fortresses to the impressive palazzos and aristocratic villas, the area is rich in places of historic and architectural interest.

GARDA

Garda is a small gemstone on the lake. In the northern part of the town we find the wonderful Punta San Vigilio; in the southern part, the Rocca mountain, from which one can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view. On top of this hill lies a hermitage of Camaldolite monks built in 1663.

Nowadays, Garda has become a know resort; the small alleys of the historic downtown district, once inhabited by fishermen, now house retail stores, hotels and restaurants. Fishing is still practiced by the locals. Indeed, the most important event of Garda are still very much tied to the fishing tradition: the Palio delle Contrade is a rowing boat regatta that is held on the fifteenth of August of every year on the typical rowing boats; the Sardellata al Pal del Vo', which takes place on the month of July, is a moonlight dinner held on a boat in the middle of the Lake.

BARDOLINO

Farming and tourism, the mainstays of this area, are favoured by the mild Mediterranean climate and the fertile hills. In the past, it was olive farming and vine growing that caused this region, which produces the world famous Bardolino wine, to be hotly contested by emperors, monks and noble families, who built castles, monasteries and mansions there.

This gave rise through the centuries to an exceptional historical and artistic heritage, which is still visible today in the ruins of the Scaliger walls, the churches, the parks and the Venetian villas. A noteworthy cultural, architectural and spiritual legacy is expressed by numerous "places of the infinite", including the monastery of San Giorgio on the old Rocca, ancient churches and plain yet interesting capitals dotted all over the Bardolino Area. In particular church of San Zeno. One of the most interesting monuments of Carolingian architecture in Northern Italy.

PESCHIERA DEL GARDA

Many and rich archeological findings attest that it had been an important human settlement during historical periods. This village has a beautiful promenade from which the streets branch off. One of the squares is an ancient parade ground and next to it there is the parish of St. Martin.

Of great historical, artistic and devotional interest is the Sanctuary of Madonna del Frassino. It was built in 1511, in the right place where Bartolomeo Broglia, a farmer, sow the Holy Mary with Christ Child. They appeared to save Bartolomeo by a snake that was menaced him while he was working at a vineyard. In the village, you can't miss two beautiful gates; one toward Verona, Verona Gate, built by Sanmicheli, and one toward Brescia, Brescia Gate, built in 1400. inside this second gate is the government palace, know as "Palazzo del Comando" and the rests of a Scaligera fortress. This one was used as a prison during the Scaligeri's period. It was scene of the terrific murder of Paolo Alboino, who had been prisoned by his brother Cansignorio for ten years and the murdered in 1375.

THE LESSINIA

This is a hillside and mountain zone located immediately to the north of Verona, bordered on the west by the Adige Valley, on the north by the Little Dolomites and on the east by the province of Vicenza.

It has the shape of a plateau cut by deep valley and gradually sloping down towards the plains. This territory, as can be seen by its abundant marine fossil finds, was formed from the sea floor tens of millions of years ago. The local population has historically exploited what this land had to offer and still today is mainly dedicated to cattle breeding and agriculture. Today the highest part of the region has a tourist vocation both during the Summer and for winter sports.

MONTE BALDO

Imposing in its mass, with steep slopes and high rocky peaks, variable weather that covers and discovers it, Mt Baldo is the setting between the Veronese plain and the hills of the morainic amphitheatre of Garda.

Its privileged position, over the plain and the lake, isolated from other mountains, enjoys a wide and magnificent landscape from the Dolomiti to the Appennini. Rich in flowers and animals: above all for its flora Mt. Baldo was explored by famous botanist who looked for rare plants. The new cableway, with its rotating cabins, carries you from Malcesine to Mount Baldo in only ten minutes.

THE FOSSIL MUSEUMS

The Museum of Bolca is the best known museum and one of the world's most important for fossil from tropical seas. It exhibits precious finds discovered in the nearby "Pesciara" (caverns where the rock strata containing the fossils are quarried).

The museum also exhibits, in addition to fish, fossils of reptiles, shellfish, insects, lamellibranches, cephalopods, and many plant. Other fossil finds that testify to the sea that covered the Lessinia region millions of years ago can be found at the Camposilvano Museum (Velo Veronese), the Roncà Museum and the S.Anna d'Alfaedo Museum.

THE MOLINA FALLS PARK

This is a Park in a Park, situated in the Mid-Valpolicella zone, above Fumane and encompassing about 150 thousand square meters of spontaneous and rich vegetation.

It is passed through by a stream that forms five waterfalls along its paths: not huge and imposing but highly evocative. Wooden bridges and boardwalks permit visitors to admire surrounding Nature, clear ponds, melodious falls, nooks, caverns and steep cliffs. A botanical museum, located in the main square ot Molina, offer information about more than 300 species of local flora.

SOAVE

Soave is important for the vineyard but it is also an architectural jewel of roman origin. The name Soave derives from Swabians or Sueven who rebuilt the town, lately fortified by Scaligeri.

On the top of Soave’s hills the Scaligero Castle dominates the landscape, it is set in the greenness of the vineyards, it consist of a central bastion, where around it, it was build a triple boundary walls, which holds tree courtyards. In the past, in the first courtyard there was a church, while in the second one there was the stable.
The highest part of the castle is dominated by the bastion, which dates back to the Roman period, and it was the residence of the rulers.To reach the center you go through Porta Verona, one of the three doors, which date back to the Scaligeri's age (the other doors are Bassano, on the north side and Vicentina on the east side) they open on its complex of embattled walls, commissioned by Cansignorio in 1375 and the walls were backed by 24 towers. Crossed the door you go along Roma Street, the principal street of the town. On the right is Mercato dei Grani's square, where in the past took place the commerce of the cereals (as testify some slabs of stone, which were used as base for the measurement for the wheat), now it is the place for the local market that take place on Tuesdays. In Roma street is also the Justice Palace, built in 1375 and commissioned by Cansignorio, who was the ruler of the town. Now it is well-know as the Magistrate's Court and it presents itself as a medieval building, its front is made of stones and bricks, it is adorned with round arches and it is decorated with memorial tablets and some inscriptions and it is dominated by a balcony upon which there is a statue of a Madonna with the infant Jesus and some angels. Along both sides, the palace is encircled by the Saints Patrons of Soave: Laurence and John Baptist.