The city of Verona - eternal monument of love

The city of Verona – eternal monument of love

Verona is known even to the most backward student either by the world-famous writer Shakespeare or by the many theatrical and film productions of his play Romeo and Juliet. The ancient and alluring, intriguing and simply charming “city of love” is always full of curious tourists.

Today no one knows for sure if there is any truth to the great playwright Shakespeare’s story of the tragic love of Romeo and Juliet.

Nevertheless, tourists flock to Verona to take a leisurely stroll along the same sidewalks and roads, sit in the same cozy courtyards as the famous characters of the work, who chose death over separation.

A little about Verona

But it is not only the great fame that makes Verona a favorite tourist destination, but also the unbelievable charm of the city itself which is one of the most beautiful and picturesque corners of Italy. Verona is sometimes called a “little Rome” and not without reason: the old city is full of churches, churches, monasteries and simply old houses with elements of Gothic and ancient architecture.

The old city – the historical center of Italy, which flourished in the XIV-XV centuries AD is located in a picturesque corner, among hills and greenery, surrounded by the rushing river Adige.

It can be entered through the bridge of Ponte Pietra, preserved since antiquity.

When you look at the city and the state of all the buildings in it, you realize that all the inhabitants here cherish their historical heritage and are infinitely proud of the past. You get the impression that time has miraculously turned back, that you can see medieval Verona, where you can meet Juliet, who sat down on the steps of a tiny chapel for a minute to rest from endless family feuds.

READ

Victoria Falls - the most impressive waterfall in the world

Or perhaps somewhere in a dark corner behind the tree branches Romeo and Tebaldo are dueling. All these plots are from a play and a movie, but it’s so easy to imagine them, being in Verona.

Many tourists, who have been here, notice that time has no power over the beautiful city. All the buildings, even the walls surrounding the city and the watchtowers, are beautifully preserved. Everything in Verona corresponds to the spirit of the time: the beautiful mosaic paintings on the houses, old paving in the streets, massive and solid doors in cathedrals and churches, pharmacy signs – masterpieces of advertising of that time, the majestic and graceful cathedrals, the architectural style of which is simply impossible to determine because of their mixture. A striking example of this is the Duomo Cathedral, where over the years of construction, restoration work and restoration closely intertwined in the extraordinary beauty of Gothic, Romanesque and even modern architecture.

The house that is shown as belonging to the Romeo family, according to the documents that have survived, was owned by the Veronese Nogarolo, but a family similar in sound to the Capulet family name did live in Verona for some time. Such considerations allow us to conclude that Shakespeare artistically embellished the story of love and devotion that took place within the city walls, rather than inventing it at all.

The main attractions of Verona

It is easy to call Verona a museum city, as there is so much old stuff, which came from the distant past and has been perfectly preserved in spite of the millennia. You can see many interesting sights in the Old Town and around the city. The greatest number of cultural and historical places can be found in Città Antica, one of Verona’s eight districts.

The most popular and colorful here are

The Arena di Verona is an ancient Roman amphitheater, like a scaled-down copy of the Roman Colosseum. In ancient times there were real bloody gladiatorial fights, where patricians decided the fate of their enemies and slaves with a wave of their hand.

READ

Interesting facts about Brazil

Today the arena is host to an annual succession of festivals, premieres and shows.

The Piazza delle Erbe is the main square of the city, its center is crowned with a charming fountain of the Madonna of Verona, which was erected in the middle of the XIV century, on the same circle there is a whole swarm of historic buildings, this and:

Gardello’s clock tower, which offers a beautiful view of the entire city;

the Gothic Merchant’s House;

the Mazzanti House, all elaborately frescoed;

The Maffei Palace, in a splendid and majestic Baroque style.

A visit to the Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore will also leave an indelible impression, whose exquisite luxury and airy refinement are breathtaking.

The Castle of Castelvecchio is one of the most ancient buildings that have survived intact to this day. The construction of the castle dates back to the VIII century, a formidable and monumental building that literally presses the mind with its power.

Over the years, the castle has served as a defensive fortress, a family nest for the venerable Scala family, a terrible prison for the city’s lawless citizens, an artillery depot during the war and, in peacetime, as a school. Today there is a museum within the walls of Castelvecchio where works by famous sculptors and painters such as Veronese and Pisanello are on display for the public to see.

There is not a single tourist who is indifferent to the appealing charms of the city.

Once you visit Verona, you want to return here indefinitely, so the city with its extraordinary atmosphere of coziness and serenity is able to attract the hearts of people.

Walking through the streets of the city you understand that the city itself is love, so such a sincere and devoted feeling of love could easily take root within its borders.