Verona is infamous for being the hometown of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but this Northern Italian city is amazing all on its own. From Roman ruins to stunning churches, Verona will sure delight history buffs of any era.
History
The pre-Roman origins of Verona are somewhat unclear. The city was founded by some local people well before the Romans moved into the area. Verona became a Roman colony in 89 BCE and a city (municipium) in 49 BCE. The Romans left a lasting mark on the city. They bridged the river twice, built a large theater and a large arena, bother of which still stand today.
The Verona arena was built in the 1st century CE.
In 403 CE, Alaric I, king of the Visigoths, invaded Northern Italy and used Verona as a setting off point for his conquests. After the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE, Verona was one of the strongholds of Odoacer, who was fighting off the Ostrogothic army.
Verona fell in 489 to the Ostrogoths. Theodoric built a palace in the city. Verona stayed in Gothic hands until 569 when it was captured by the Lombards. After the 8th century, the city became less of an important chess peace for conquers. The city was ruled by a hereditary family line of counts from then on.
By the medieval era, Verona was a city of towers, 48 in fact. The increasing wealth of the merchant families over that of the ruling counts took its toll on the political system of the city and the city was reorganized as a free commune in 1100. This did not end the power struggles in the city, however. It still was a bloody time for Verona.
By the time of the Renaissance, Verona fell into the hands of the Holy Roman Empire (16th century). It was a time of peace and prosperity for the city that brought artists and economic growth to the city. Churches and palaces were embellished, and the population rose, only to be decimated again by plague. Mother Nature can be cruel.
Napoleon occupied Verona in 1797 and signed it over to Austria, finally putting an end to the grand experiment of the Venetian Republic to which Verona belonged to at this time. Verona remained part of Austria until 1866, when it finally became part of a unified Italy, not seen since the days of the Roman Empire.
During WWII, Verona was one of the most bombed cities in the area due to its strategic position, something previous conquers saw 1,500 years prior. In April 1945, the Germans, while fleeing the city, destroyed all the historic bridges. Many of which have been reconstructed using the rubble from the riverbanks.
Ponte Pietra crossing the River Adige, the bell tower of the Duomo making a dramatic entrance. The Ponte Pietra was first constructed in 100 BCE but had to be rebuilt after WWII.
Today, Verona is one of the most romantic Italian cities, not just because of Romeo and Juliet. It is because of the atmosphere of this Northern Italian city. You will fall in love with the history of this city.
Tips for Verona
Avoid Juliet’s House like the plague. It’s all fake and overcrowded.
There is amazing food around Piazza Erbe, but the prices drop if you go a couple of blocks out.
Try the local tortellini!
Climbing the stairs at the arena is a great leg workout, if you need one. However, you may be sore the next day.
Verona has two train stations and a bus station that links to all over the region and to other cities, like Venice, Milan, Bologna, Padua, Mantua, etc. You can take a bus to Lake Garda in the summer (winter schedules are horrible).
Top Attractions
Top places to visit in Verona!
