Appianline -

Verona is nowadays the second city of Veneto for its liveliness and for the importance of its economic activities; moreover it is an international tourist centre. The sweet loops of the Adige, that flows through the city, and the low hills surrounding it at the northern side contribute to creating an harmoniously beautiful landscape. Due to its geographical position, Verona was probably an Etruscan and Euganean centre but the first certain signs of civilization date back to the 4^th century bc. It is still possible to admire the magnificent traces referred to Roman Empire during which Verona was a very important economical centre: the Arena, the Roman Theatre, the Roman Arco dei Gavi, Porta Borsari, the archaeological area near Porta Leoni and the Scavi Scaligeri. This central area of the city, became in the Middle Age the centre of political and economic power. Here the marks of different historical periods are harmoniously moulded together: from Roman ruins to magnificent palaces of the 18^th –19^th century situated between medieval buildings, that flourished under the reign of the Signori Scaligeri, and rinascimental styled buildings. Many famous artists contributed to exalt the beauty of the city, for instance Fra’ Giocondo, Girolamo dai Libri, Liberale da Verona, Michele Sanmicheli, il Pisanello and il Veronese.

Verona has always been synonymous of culture this is why it has hosted millions of visitors since its origin, many of them were very famous, for example Dante, Mozart, Goethe, Ruskin. Nowadays Verona attracts people from everywhere thanks to the Arena, the myth of Romeo and Juliet and its precious beauty.

Verona to see

The Arena is a roman amphitheater which hosted games where gladiators would fight each other or wild animals before a vast public that came from all over the territory. The Arena held around 30,000 spectators and had four main entrances, corresponding to its two axes.

The monumental gates, the walls and the fortification are testimony to the strategic importance of the city, well protected from external aggressions. Castelvecchio was built in the period 1354-1357 by Cangrande II of the ruling Della Scala family.It was intended both as a home and a defensive fortification.
Gavi Arch a four-sided arch built in the first part of the 1st century AD in honour of the Gavi family, important members of Veronese Roman society. This monument, entirely in local white limestone, bears two inscriptions with the name of its builder, architect Lucio Vitruvio Cerdone, a rare occurrence in the ancient world.

Church of St. Lorenzo is a Romanesque church dates back to 1117.

Church of SS. Apostoli and Sacellum (votive chapel) of SS. Tosca and Teuteria is a paleochristian church dates back to the early 12th century, but it was continually added to until the 18th century.

Piazza delle Erbe was the Forum, the centre of city life during Roman times, it has continued to fill this same role for centuries. Here are the 14th century Gardello Tower and the baroque Palazzo Maffei; the courtyard of the Palazzo del Comune (built in the 12th century) and the Lamberti Tower with its suggestive panoramic views over the city; the loggia by Fra' Giocondo (1476-1493).

Piazza dei Signori and Scavi Scaligeri, (Scaligeri tombs); Juliet’s House originally dating back to the 12th century and the Basilica Of San Fermo Maggiore, dedicated to Saints Fermo and Rustico, early 6th century martyrs, the basilica was given to the Benedictines in the 10th century and completely rebuilt in Cluniac style, in the period 1065-1143.