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Verona Italy
The supposed balcony where Romeo called for Juliet
Verona (population est. 260,000) is an ancient town, episcopal see and province in the Veneto, Northern Italy.
The ancient town, and the centre of the modern city, is situated in a loop of the Adige River near Lake Garda.
History
Verona was supposedly founded by Etruscans, but the first historical records are from the 4th century BC. It became
a notable political and commercial center during Roman times.
Verona was flooded in 1239 and largely rebuilt. The city reached the pinnacle of its political influence during
the 14th century as the seat of power of the della Scala family (also known as the Scaligeri).
Roman monuments
Verona is famous for its Roman amphitheatre, the Arena where opera is now performed in the summer months. The Arena
(whose shape and use immediately recall the Roman Colosseum) was built in the mid-1st century AD on a site which
at the time was outside the city walls. The ludi (shows and games) played in it were so famous that spectators
came to Verona for them from many other (sometimes very distant) places. The amphitheatre could host more than
30,000 spectators, and the most requested events were gladiators' fights (against lions too). The round façade
was originally in white and pink limestone from Valpolicella, but during the Middle Ages the Arena was used as
a sort of quarry for other buildings. The first interventions to recover its functionality as a theatre were started
during the Renaissance.
But other Roman monuments too are in the town, like the Roman theatre, built in the 1st century BC and retrieved
in the 18th century thanks to Andrea Monga, a wealthy Veronese who bought all the houses that in time had been
built over the theatre, demolished them and saved the monument. Verona hosts indeed one of the richest collections
of Roman remains of all Northern Italy.
The Arco dei Gavi (Gavi Arch), dedicated to the important Roman family of the Gavii, was built in the same 1st
century AD, and is famous for having the name of the builder (architect Lucius Vitruvius Cordone) engraved on it,
a really rare case in the architecture of the epoque. It had been demolished by the French troops in 1805 and was
rebuilt in 1932.
Medieval monuments
San Zeno Basilica, like many other Veronese churches, is built with alternating layers of white stone and bricks.The
Saint Zeno Basilica (San Zeno) is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture.[1] (http://www.chieseverona.it/sanzeno.htm)
It was rebuilt in 1117 on the remains of an older church, following from an earthquake.
Famous Veronese
Girolamo Fracastoro also known by his Latin name Fracastorius - renowned scholar, physician and poet
Other information
Verona was the birthplace of Catullus, Vitruvius, and the town that Julius Caesar selected for his relaxing stays.
In its history many important names passed and events happened that were relevant for the European history, like
Theodoric the Great, king of Ostrogoths, Alboin and Rosamunda, the Lombard Dukes, Charlemagne and Pippin of Italy,
Berengar I, Dante. Conclaves were held here, as were important congresses. Verona was in the travel diaries of
Goethe, Stendhal, Paul Valéry.
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 wall beneath it is covered with their graffiti.
Its Natural history museum contains one of the most valuable collections of fossils and archaeological remains
of Europe.
The colors of the city are the yellow and the blue.
The town has two soccer teams, both in the highest two divisions of the Italian championship: Chievo Verona and
Hellas Verona.
Things from Verona (and sometimes people) are called Veronese. The most famous example of this can lead to confusion,
however, as the Renaissance painter, Paolo Veronese is often referred to as simply "Veronese".
Verona (population est. 270,000) is an ancient town, episcopal see and province
in the Veneto, Northern Italy. The ancient town, and the centre of the modern city, are in a loop of the Adige
River near Lake Garda. Because of this position, the areas saw regular floodings until 1956. It was in that year
that the Mori-Torbole tunnel was constructed, which provides 500 cubic meters of discharge from the Adige river
to the Garda lake in case of flood danger. The tunnel reduced the risk of floodings from once every seventy years
to once every two centuries.
History
Verona, or Veronia, was a city of the Euganei, who were obliged to cede it to the Cenomani (550 B.C.). With the
conquest of the Valley of the Po the Veronese territory became Roman (about 300 B.C.); Verona had the franchise
in 59. The city derived importance from being at the intersection of many roads. With the taking of Verona (A.D.
489) the Gothic domination of Italy began; Theodoric built his palace there, and in Germanic legend the name of
Verona is linked with his. This city remained in the power of the Goths all through the Gothic war, with the exception
of a single day in 541, when an Armenian officer effected an entrance. Dissensions which arose among the Byzantine
generals in regard to booty enabled the Goths to regain possession. In 552 Valerian vainly endeavoured to gain
an entrance, and only the complete overthrow of the Goths brought about its surrender. In 569 it was taken by Alboin,
King of the Lombards, in whose kingdom it was, in a sense, the second city in importance. There Alboin himself
was killed by his own wife in 572. The dukes of Treviso often resided there. At Verona Adalgisus, son of Desiderius,
in 774 made his last desperate resistance to Charlemagne, who had destroyed the Lombard kingdom. Verona was then
the ordinary residence of the kings of Italy, the government of the city becoming hereditary in the family of Count
Milo, progenitor of the counts of San Bonifacio. From 880 to 951 the two Berengarii resided there. Otto I ceded
to Verona the marquisate dependent on the Duchy of Bavaria.
The splendor of the city in those days, dominated by its forty- eight towers, is described in a Latin ode of which
we shall speak later on. The increasing wealth of the burgher families eclipsed the power of the counts, and in
1100 we find Verona organized as a commune. The San Bonifacio could at most hold the office of podestè of
the city now and then. Verona, at first undecided, was forced by Vicenza to join the Lombard League. This, however,
gave rise to the factions of Guelphs and Ghibellines in Verona. When Ezzelino IV was elected podestè, in
1226, he was able to convert the office into a permanent lordship, and in 1257 he caused the slaughter of 11,000
Paduans on the plain of Verona (Campi di Verona). Upon his death the Great Council elected as podestè Mastino
della Scala, and he converted the "signoria" into a family possession, though leaving the burghers a
share in the government. Failing to be re-elected podestè in 1262, he effected a coup d'état, and
was acclaimed capitano del popolo, with the command of the communal troops. It was not without long internal discord
that he succeeded in establishing this new office, to which was attached the function of confirming the podestè.
In 1272 Mastino was killed by the faction of the nobles. The reign of his son Alberto as capitano (1277-1302) was
one incessant war against the counts of San Bonifacio, who were aided by the House of Este. Of his sons, Bartolommeo,
Alboino, and Can Grande I, only the last shared the government (1308); he was great as warrior, prince, and patron
of the arts; he protected Dante, Petrarch, and Giotto. By war or treaty he brought under his control the cities
of Padua (1328), Treviso (1308), and Vicenza.
Alberto was succeeded by Mastino II (1329-51) and Alberto, sons of Alboino. Mastino continued his uncle's policy,
conquering Brescia in 1332 and carrying his power beyond the Po. He purchased Parma (1335) and Lucca (1339). After
the King of France, he was the richest prince of his time. But a powerful league was formed against him in 1337---Florence,
Venice, the Visconti, the Este, and the Gonzaga. After a three years war, the Scaliger dominions were reduced to
Verona and Vicenza. His son Can Grande II (1351-59) was a cruel, dissolute, and suspicious tyrant; not trusting
his own subjects, he surrounded himself with Brandenburg mercenaries. He was killed by his brother Cansignorio
(1359-75), who beautified the city with palaces, provided it with aqueducts and bridges, and founded the state
treasury. He also killed his other brother, Paolo Alboino. Fratricide seems to have become a family custom, for
Antonio (1375-87), Cansignorio's natural brother, slew his brother Bartolommeo, thereby arousing the indignation
of the people, who deserted him when Gian Galeazzo Visconti of Milan made war on him. Having exhausted all his
resources, he fled from Verona at midnight (19 October, 1387), thus putting an end to the Scaliger domination,
which, however, survived in its monuments. His son Can Francesco in vain attempted to recover Verona (1390). Guglielmo
(1404), natural son of Can Grande II, was more fortunate; with the support of the people, he drove out the Milanese,
but he died ten days after, and Verona then submitted to Venice (1405). The last representatives of the Scaligeri
lived at the imperial court and repeatedly attempted to recover Verona by the aid of popular risings. From 1490
to 1517 the city was in the power of the Emperor Maximilian I. It was occupied by Napoleon in 1797, but on Easter
Monday the populace rose and drove out the French. It was then that Napoleon made an end of the Venetian Republic.
In 1866, on the anniversary of the defeat of Königrätz, the Austrians evacuated Verona, their strongest
fortress in Venetia, which thus became Italian.
For the origins of the Church in Verona the important document is the "Carmen Pipinianum" (ninth century),
in which, besides a description of the city and an enumeration of its churches, there is a list of the first eight
bishops, from St. Euprepius to St. Zeno, who died in 380. Less important is the famous pianeta (chasuble) of Classe,
Ravenna, on which are represented not only the bishops of Verona, but also other saints and bishops of other dioceses
venerated at Verona in the ninth century. St. Zeno having been the eighth bishop, the period of St. Euprepius,
and therefore of the erection of the see, must be placed not before the peace given to the Church under Gallienus
(260), but rather under the first period of the reign of Diocletian, when the Church enjoyed peace. In the same
"Carmen" mention is made of Sts. Firmus and Rusticus, martyred at Verona, probably under Maximian. The
list of the earliest bishops is as follows: Euprepius, Dimidrianus (Demetrianus), Simplicius, Proculus, Saturninus,
Lucilius, present at the Council of Sardica in 343 (called Lucillus by St. Athanasius and Lucius in the signatures
of the bishops at Sardica), Gricinus, Zeno. This St. Zeno is called a martyr in the "Carmen" and is placed
in the time of Gallienus. At any rate the existence of a distinguished St. Zeno, Bishop of Verona, a contemporary
of St. Ambrose, and author of a series of religious discourses, is historically attested, and as, on the other
hand, the ancient documents know but one bishop of that name, it must be concluded that, as early as the ninth
century, the legend had corrupted chronology. For the rest, we know from the sermons of St. Zeno how deeply paganism
was still rooted in Verona in his time, particularly in the country districts. His successor was Syagrius. Other
bishops were: St. Petronius (c. 410); Gaudentius (465); St. Valens (522-31); Solatius and Junior, who joined the
schism of the Three Chapters; Hanno (about 758); Ratoldus, who imposed community life on the canons (806) and reorganized
the education of the clergy. Among the masters of his school the deacon Pacificus was eminent for his knowledge
of Greek and Hebrew, although the Italian historian Cristina La Rocca disputes this acclaim as twelfth century
fabrication. Nottingus (840) was the first to denounce the heretic Godescalcus. Adelardus (876) was excommunicated
for invading the monastery of Nonnantula. Ratherius (930), a Benedictine and a distinguished author, was thrice
driven from his see by usurpers, among whom was the notorious Manasses of Arles. He, too, fostered learning in
the cathedral school. Joannes (1027) was distinguished for sanctity and learning. Bruno (1073), who wrote some
interpretations of Scripture, was killed by one of his chaplains.
In the time of Bishop Ognibene (1157), a distinguished canonist, Pope Lucius III died at Verona, in 1183, after
meeting Barbarossa and holding a synod there. There, too, was held the conclave which elected Urban III, who spent
nearly all of his brief pontificate at Verona. Bishops Jacopo da Breganze (1225) and Gerardo Cossadocca (1254)
were exiled by the tyrant Ezzellino. Manfredo Roberti (1259) suffered insult and imprisonment at the hands of the
Ghibellines. Bonincontro (1295) died in the odour of sanctity. Bartolommeo della Scala (1336), a Benedictine, was
calumniated to his nephew Mastino, Lord of Verona, who slew him with his own hand, and among the penalties for
this crime inflicted by Benedict XII was the revocation of the privilege of nominating bishops. Pietro della Scala
reformed the lives of the clergy and vainly endeavoured to bring the canons under his own jurisdiction instead
of that of the Patriarch of Aquileia. When the Visconti obtained possession of Verona, Pietro was banished. Francesco
Condulmer (1439) founded the college of acolytes to add to the beauty of public worship and to form a learned and
pious clergy; the school still exists. This institution was necessary because, with the establishment of the University
of Verona, the cathedral school had been suppressed, and the young clerics who attended the university were at
that time dispensed from officiating in church functions: the acolytes of the new college were obliged both to
study and to attend ecclesiastical functions. Ermolao Barbaro also did much for the reform of the diocese. Cardinal
Giovanni Michele (1471) was a munificent restorer of the cathedral and the episcopal palace, as also was Cardinal
Marco Cornaro (1592). For Gian Matteo Giberti (1524) and Pietro and Luigi Lippomano (1544, 1548) see articles under
their respective names. Agostino Valier (1565) was a cardinal. Sebastiano Pisani (1650) was a zealous pastor. Giovanni
Bragadino (1733) was a mirror of all the virtues; in his episcopate the Patriarchate of Aquileia was suppressed,
and Benedict XIV brought the chapter under the bishop's jurisdiction, at the same time laying down wise rules for
the government of the diocese. Giovanni Andrea Avogadro (1790) abdicated the see to return to the Society of Jesus.
Benedetto de Riccabona (1854), A Tyrolese, was a model pastor. The present bishop is Bartolommeo Cardinal Bacilieri
(1900). Councils of Verona worthy of note are those of 1184, at which the pope presided, and 1276, against the
Patarenes who were somewhat numerous in the Veronese territory, even among the clergy.
At Verona is the mother-house of the Sons of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and their college for the Central African
missions. The Congregation of the Stimmatini was also founded at Verona. Natives of this city were the architects
Fra Giocondo, a Dominician, and Sanmichele; the painter Paolo Caliari (known also as Paolo Veronese), Falconetto,
Liberali, Francesco and Girolamo dai Libri, Brusasorci, and others; among men of learning, Guarino, Lipomanno,
Maffei, Bianchini, and others. The diocese was suffragan of Aquileia, then of Udine; since 1818 it has been suffragan
of Venice. It has 262 parishes with 400,500 faithful; 786 secular priests; 132 regular priests; 17 houses of male
religious; 45 of Sisters; 4 colleges for boys; 7 for girls. The Catholic Press consists of "Verona Fedele"
(a daily paper), three weeklies, and the monthly "La Nigrizia".
Monuments
Because of the value and importance of its many historical buildings, Verona has been named a UNESCO world heritage
site.
The Arena.Verona is famous for its Roman amphitheatre, the Arena, completed around 30 AD, which is the third largest
in Italy, after Rome's Colosseum and the arena at Capua.It measures 139 meters long and 110 meters wide, and could
seat some 25,000 spectators in its 44 tiers of marble seats. The ludi (shows and gladiator games) performed within
its walls were so famous that they attracted spectators from far beyond the city. The current two-story façade
is actually the internal support for the tiers; only a fragment of the original outer perimeter wall in white and
pink limestone from Valpolicella, with three stories remains.The interior is very impressive and is virtually intact,
and has remained in use even today for public events, fairs, theatre and open-aired opera during warm, Summer nights.
There is also a variety of other Roman monuments to be found in the town, such as the Roman theatre. This theatre
was built in the 1st century BC, but through the ages had fallen in disuse and had been built upon to provide housing.
In the 18th century Andrea Monga, a wealthy Veronese, bought all the houses that in time had been built over the
theatre, demolished them, and saved the monument.
The Arco dei Gavi (Gavi Arch), dedicated to the important Roman family of the Gavii, was built in the 1st century
AD, and is famous for having the name of the builder (architect Lucius Vitruvius Cordone) engraved on it, a really
rare case in the architecture of the epoque. It originally it straddled the main Roman road into the city, now
the Corso Cavour. It had been demolished by the French troops in 1805 and was rebuilt in 1932.
Nearby is the Porta dei Borsari, an archway is at the end of Corso Porta Borsari. This is the façade of
a 3rd century gate in the original Roman city walls. The inscription is dated 245 AD and gives the city name as
Colonia Verona Augusta. The road passing through the gate is the original Via Sacra of the Roman city. Today, it
is lined with several Renaissance palazzo.
Porta dei Leoni is the 1st century BC ruin of what was once part of the Roman city gate. A substantial portion
is still standing as part of the wall of a medieval building. The street itself is an open archaeological site,
and the remains of the original Roman street and gateway foundations can be seen a few feet below the present street
level.
Medieval monuments
San Zeno Basilica, like many other Veronese churches, is built with alternating layers of white stone and bricks.The
Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore [1]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. The splendid façade dominates the large square, and is flanked with a beautiful 72 meter 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 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 shi's
keel ceiling. The vaulted crypt contains the tomb of St Zeno (d.380), 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).
The small Romanesque Basilica of San Lorenzo is one of the most beautiful and 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 wome'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.
St Maria Antica is a tiny Romanesque church was the parish church of the Scaligeri clan. Founded in the 7th century,
the interior is very beautiful. The structure is of alternating bands of brick and stone. The square belfry has
Gothic mullioned windows, and inset glass crosses in the roof admit light. Only large enough to hold a couple dozen
people at most for mass, when the Scaligeri chose this to be their funerary chapel, the only place for their massive
tombs was outside. Hovering in mid-air above the entrance to the church is the Tomb of Cangrand I "Big Dog"
(d.1329). The base of the fancy sarcophagus forms the porch. Above is a Gothic canopy with a pyramid-shaped roof.
The statue of the dead warlord is on top; however, the whole assembly is topped with a statue of Cangrand on horseback,
in armor, sword in hand, with a manic smile and his outrageous dog-head helmet. Towering over the fence are the
spire topped tombs of Mastino II “The Mastiff” (d.1351) and Cansignorio “Noble Dog” (d.1375), with splendidly wrought
Gothic pinnacles bristling like lances, and similar detailed carvings, statues, winged helmets and wrought-iron
fences with the Scaligeri ladder emblems. In all of Europe, there is nothing like these spiky, flamboyant, monuments.
Simplertombs near the church wall contain other members of the Scaligeri clan, including Mastino (d.1277) who founded
the dynasty, Bartolomeo (d.1304) and Giovanni (d.1359).
St 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 Gothic portal has faded 15th century frescoes and carved
scenes from the life of St Peter Martyr, but the façade is unfinished. Inside is one of the most outstanding
examples of Gothic architecture in northern Italy. However, its proportions and various elements of the design
are still decidedly Romanesque. Of note are the 2 holy water stoups inside are upheld by comical and realistic
beggars.
Famous Veronese
Girolamo Fracastoro also known by his Latin name Fracastorius - renowned scholar, physician and poet
Cesare Lombroso criminologyst
Emilio Salgari, writer
Other information
Verona was the birthplace of Catullus, Vitruvius, and the town that Julius Caesar selected for his relaxing stays.
In its history many important names passed and events happened that were relevant for the European history, like
Theodoric the Great, king of Ostrogoths, Alboin and Rosamunda, the Lombard Dukes, Charlemagne and Pippin of Italy,
Berengar I, Dante. Conclaves were held here, as were important congresses. Verona was in the travel diaries of
Goethe, Stendhal and Paul Valéry.
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.
Its Natural history museum contains one of the most valuable collections of fossils and archaeological remains
of Europe. Castelvecchio Museum features a collection of sculptures, statues and paintings in a magnificent castle
built in 1354-1356 and restored by renowned architect Carlo Scarpa from 1969-70, and 1975.
The colors of the city are the yellow and the blue.
The town has two soccer teams, one in the highest division of the Italian championship, Chievo Verona and the other
in the second division, Hellas Verona.
Things from Verona (and sometimes people) are called Veronese. The most famous example of this can lead to confusion,
however, as the Renaissance painter, Paolo Veronese is often referred to as simply "Veronese".
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