Interesting facts about Verona

verona

Verona is a city in Veneto region, northern Italy.

It is situated at the foot of the Lessini Mountains and is half-encircled by the Adige River.

As of July 2020, the population of Verona is about 265,000 people.

The city covers a total area of 207 square kilometers (80 square miles).

The average altitude is 59 metres (194 feet) above sea level.

verona-2

The city was founded by an ancient tribe (possibly the Euganei or Raeti) and was later occupied by the Gallic Cenomani.

It became a Roman colony in 89 BC and rapidly rose in importance because it was at the junction of main roads between Italy and northern Europe.

The city particularly flourished under the rule of the Scaliger family in the 13th and 14th centuries and as part of the Republic of Venice from the 15th to 18th centuries.

verona history

Verona has preserved a remarkable number of monuments from antiquity, the medieval and Renaissance periods, and represents an outstanding example of a military stronghold.

The city has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its urban structure and architecture.

Two of William Shakespeare’s plays are set in Verona: Romeo and Juliet and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. It is unknown if Shakespeare ever visited Verona or Italy, but his plays have lured many visitors to Verona and surrounding cities.

william shakespeare

Today, Verona is one of the main tourist destinations in northern Italy because of its artistic heritage and several annual fairs, shows, and operas, such as the lyrical season in the Verona Arena.

The Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheatre in Piazza Bra in Verona, Italy built in the first century. It is still in use today and is internationally famous for the large-scale opera performances given there. It is one of the best preserved ancient structures of its kind. In ancient times, the arena’s capacity was nearly 30,000 people. The stage for concerts and opera performances decreases the available places to a maximum of 15,000. It will be used as the closing ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

verona arena

Juliet’s house (Casa di Giulietta) is one of the main attractions of Verona with the most famous balcony in the world. Every day crowds of people make their way through the narrow archway into the courtyard to admire and photograph the famous balcony. Couples of all ages swear eternal fidelity here in memory of Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet”.

juliet's balcony

The Basilica di San Zeno is a minor basilica in Verona. It was constructed between 967-1398 AD. Its fame rests partly on its Romanesque architecture and partly upon the tradition that its crypt was the place of the marriage of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It stands adjacent to a Benedictine abbey, both dedicated to St Zeno of Verona.

Basilica di San Zeno

Verona Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Verona. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the designation Santa Maria Matricolare. The cathedral is the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Verona. It was erected after two Palaeo-Christian churches on the same site had been destroyed by an earthquake in 1117. Built in Romanesque style, the cathedral was consecrated on September 13, 1187. The structure was later modified by several renovation interventions, although the plan has remained unchanged.

Verona Cathedral

Castelvecchio is a castle in Verona. It is the most important military construction of the Scaliger dynasty that ruled the city in the Middle Ages. The castle is powerful and compact in its size with
very little decoration – one square compound built in red bricks, one of the most prominent examples of Gothic architecture of the age, with imposing M-shaped merlons running along the castle and bridge walls. Castelvecchio is now home to the Castelvecchio Museum which displays a collection of sculpture, statues, paintings, ancient weapons, ceramics, goldworks, miniatures and some old bells.

castelvecchio

The Castel Vecchio Bridge or Scaliger Bridge is a fortified bridge over the Adige River. The segmental arch bridge featured the world’s largest span at the time of its construction (48.7 m / 159.8 ft). It was built (most likely in 1354-1356) by Cangrande II della Scala, to grant him a safe way of escape from the annexed eponymous castle in the event of a rebellion of the population against his tyrannic rule.

castel vecchio bridge

The Torre dei Lamberti is an 84 m (276 ft) high tower. Construction of the tower was started in 1172. In May 1403 the top of the tower was struck by lightning, but the restoration works didn’t start until 1448 and took 16 years. During that time, the tower was enlarged: The more recent sections can be recognized today by the use of different materials (such as marble). The large clock was added in 1779.

torre dei lamberti

Piazza delle Erbe (Market’s square) is a square in Verona, northern Italy. It was once the town’s forum during the time of the Roman Empire.

piazza delle erbe

Piazza Bra is the largest piazza in Verona with some claims that it is the largest in the country. The piazza is lined with numerous cafés and restaurants, along with several notable buildings.

piazza bra

The city has three professional football teams. Historically, the city’s major team has been Hellas Verona.

IDEA Verona is an Italian language, art, and culture school for foreigners visiting or living in Verona.

Verona ships fruits and vegetables to central Europe and is noted for its cereal market and its annual International Agricultural and Horse Fair (since 1898).

Artistic furniture making and work in precious metals and marble are flourishing handicraft industries, and Verona’s traditional wines.