Verona Italy

Verona is said to be a little bit of Paradise on Earth. Verona is a fine example of a fort town that has been developed bit by bit for more than two thousand years - so says the venerable group UNESCO. Verona has kept in good order lots and lots of monuments from time of the Romans. The city of Verona has within its confines buildings of diverse styles of architecture and periods. In spite of the variety of different and divergent styles, the buildings within the city are in an agreeable harmony.

Shakespeare's well-loved play Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona,but he never ever went there. Thousands and thousands of international visitors come to the city to stand underneath that famous balcony where Juliet asked wherefore was her lover Romeo. The palace is difficult to get to because everyone wants to see Juliet's balcony. Juliet's balcony was actually built in the 1930's. The montague palace is far less popular than the one of the Capulets. There are also formidable opera productions that are held at the Roman arena - Verdi's Aida being a favourite that delights the patrons of this wonderful opera stage. The arena dates from many centuries ago and it becomes an opera stage underneath the stars. Be sure to get a scrumptious meal before the opera starts.

A count is laid to rest in a sarcophagus in the city and give added atmosphere to an eerie Gothic cathedral. Dante lived and worked in Verona in 1316 but he was critical of the families of Verona, especially the Capulets and the Montagues. Some of the rulers of Verona were unfortunately despotic and there were killings and lots of blood shed over the centuries by plotting families and power brokers. The market square is one of the most beautiful in Italy. As a new day begins in the Piazza the stalls are opening where you can buy all sorts of vegetable and fruits. Below the cobblestones are the traces of a Roman forum. Traces of Roman rule are everwhere in Verona.

There are many important churches such as the San Zeno Maggiore Basilica in Verona which is richly decorated and ornamented. The Wheel of Fortune is a huge rose window that gives the basilica a warm glow. The basilica was built as a shrine to the patron saint of Verona, St. Zeno. Characteristic of this architecture are the famous gothic arches. There is a fresco showing Saint George going off to fight the dragon. The hodge-podge of styles in the city has been recognised by Unesco as a unique place of cultural heritage.

Verona is the capital of the province of Veneto in the north of Italy. The River Adige flows through the city and is near to Lake Garda. When the Goths took the city in 489 the warlord Theodoric built his palace in Verona. The Roman forum was built again by Cangrande the First who was a lord of Verona. The Roman Arena was built about 30 AD and seats approximately twenty five thousand people.

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