Any city built by the river is alive in a special way. Leaving the cramped medieval quarters of Verona here, right on the embankment, we see the Adige River, coming from the distant Alps and freely expanding the urban space. She drowned this city so many times and destroyed bridges until people learned to completely contain her flood.
Its two banks join Ponte Pietra bridge, the oldest and built back in antiquity, when Verona was a Roman colony. Measuring steps along the ancient bridge stones, one cannot help but imagine how the Veronese people walked along them in the same way in ancient times. “In Verona, one should not so much chase sights as simply walk along it, looking at passing houses and arches, diving into nooks and yards. Each stone here is old, and everything plunges into a huge fairy tale of epochs, ”the people who have been here more than once say so.
Opening the sights map
Deciding with anticipation what to see in Verona, we choose its most memorable places. Heading straight from the embankment to explore the marvelous city, we find ourselves on Piazza Bra (Piazza Bra)- the center of modern Verona. The oldest Gate Porta Della Bra mark the passage to this historical space. The area is huge, you can walk on it for a long time, looking at the palaces and fountains. But the center of attraction for people on it is the Roman amphitheater, or otherwise the arena. In ancient times, all mass events and spectacles, such as gladiator fights, were held here.
Only the Colosseum itself is larger than this gigantic place. The amazing thing is that it does not just stand in the dust of its former glory, but is constantly used for crowded holidays and shows. Thus, the largest festival of opera music is held in the amphitheater. But because of its huge prestige, you can’t get on it for anything, so if you want, book tickets in advance! Consider housing options ahead of time, too, because it is forbidden to spend the night in the open air and pitch tents on the square, as the signs say for the benefit of all resourceful tourists! This is subject to a small fine of up to 500 euros.
Moving on, we come to Piazza delle Erbe. In ancient times, merchants came here to trade, here people learned what was happening in the vast world. Now this square is also full of visitors, but already tourists, who are offered a cosmic assortment of medieval souvenirs, books, paintings and food. It might not hurt someone to buy a guide here. In addition, where else, if not here, you can feel the local communication, see the energetic faces of the Veronians and communicate with them, maybe with smiles and gestures, and maybe in their language. Locals do not like to appear on the tourist "paths", but on the square you can watch them to your heart's content. “In general, people in Verona are not stiff, like in the rest of Italy, but they are very friendly and smile widely at tourists!” - all newcomers are happy to notice.
While still in the thick of stalls, we will see sculptures from afar. This Fountain of Madonna Venus attracted us. Built in the 14th century, it seems very elegant and perfect to a modern person. Nearby stands the column of St. Mark, which depicts a winged lion - so Venice once marked its influence over Italy.
New secrets of Verona
On Erbe Square is also visible to everyone Lambretti Tower. This is the tallest building in Verona. We will definitely climb it and see how the ornate pattern of cramped streets and fabulous roofs so comfortable to the eye is closed by mountains, alpine giants. “There, below, it sometimes seemed that there were more people on the streets than the old roads could calmly carry ... But here you can see: Verona is wide and very hospitable!” - says one traveler, who has been sitting upstairs for 30 minutes.
And it is true. Let's go down and understand that we are going somewhere in the very depths of medieval stories. One of them is about the legendary Dante, who lived in Verona after his exile from Florence. Him on Piazza dei Signorii, another square, a monument was erected.
From here you can go to family tomb of the Scaligeri dynasty(street Via Santa Maria Antica, 1), which has long ruled in Verona. Nothing terrible is felt here, but you feel solemn and concentrated, as always, in contact with Gothic buildings.
Residents of Verona speak of their hometown as follows:
“In general, you can continuously walk around Verona and fall into a trance because of the excess of all this beauty!”
And, really, is it necessary to strive to be in time everywhere in one day, if we are already in his full power? Perhaps, where else it is worth going today is to the “Shakespearean” places.
Getting out again at the intersection, we suddenly notice that the locals do not follow the traffic lights at all. They cross the road as soon as the traffic stops. The people loitering by the side of the road in Verona are always tourists. Here's another way to show off!
Although, we are not hiding, enthusiastically looking at everything around. A very large stream of people with cameras overwhelms us and leads us exactly to the right place. Here stands the cult Juliet's house(St. Capello, 23). Everyone remembers that the action of Romeo and Juliet took place in Verona. And, probably, the prototype of the Capulet family was the Capello family, who owned this mansion of the XIV century. It also has a balcony, well remembered from the book, and Juliet herself stands next to the house - a statue depicting a really very beautiful, touching and thoughtful girl. “You see her, and the sublime image does not break, it is easy to imagine the real Juliet in her, the way she is ideally,” one man nearby remarks. Isn't this the greatest praise for a sculpture?
People like to create legends, and they associated the fulfillment of their love dreams with this place. Someone writes cherished names and messages on the walls, hangs locks on the handrails, and someone touches Juliet herself ... The only thing that is somewhat surprising in this respect is that the story of Romeo and Juliet is tragic. How can she contact a happy union? Rather, Verona itself, abundant and prosperous, disposes everyone to love.
See for sure!
On the map of Verona, we are particularly attracted to a couple more places. One of them - Cathedral(Piazza Duomo, 21), a truly majestic building. Ancient columns, sculptures and arches, revealing religious stories, surround us. In a word, it is as if you are in a sacred museum and it is not so important whether you are a believer or not.
Having received a special mood from this place, you need to go to Church of Santa Anastasia(St. Vicolo Sotto Riva, 4). She is over eight hundred years old, and she is the largest in all of Verona. We go inside and hold our breath. Everything is striking: every detail of the medieval vision, every curve of the interior. The bowls with holy water, which are held by two hunchbacks, stand out very much. They say that the sculptor sculpted them from the Veronians themselves, from millers who dragged heavy sacks of flour. But the sensations are very unusual: either there are some fairy-tale heroes in front of you, or two people from distant eras who have remained here forever.
To feel the spirit of the European Middle Ages is the main desire of many travelers in Verona. Therefore, a place that can not be missed in any way - Museum of Castelvecchio(St. Castelvecchio, 2), located on one of the banks of the Adige. Once it was a castle of the Scaliger dynasty, severe and canonical in appearance. Now there is a City Museum in it, which contains works of mainly Verona and other artists and masters of the Middle Ages. You need to come here to see a part of the culture created by people who worked here and saw Verona for real, with their soul. In the museum you can discover something that is not on crowded excursions and trampled tourist routes.
There is one more place removed from the main excursion routes - Castle of San Pietro. Here you can already see a large hill, which was the most important viewing object before, when San Pietro served as a defensive fortress. From above, where you can climb, you can see the whole of Verona and the river opens in its expanse beauty. Panoramic photo will turn out with a bang! The surroundings of the castle itself now serve as a public park, where residents of the city are very fond of visiting. In these places, nature is freely felt, it is good to come to them just after everything ... and let the impressions settle down a bit. Buy ice cream. You don't want to leave here at all.
“Verona is a cozy and not pompous province, but it immediately arouses respect,” is the description given to the city by many tourists. Do you want to verify this? Embark on your own journey for a fairy tale, history and legend, and you will want to return there!
