Monday, June 20, 2011

VERONA - DAY 1

Our first day in Verona we did what I am sure every other tourist does -

Visit the Roman Arena. It is the 3rd largest of those remaining and the best preserved. The building itself was built in 30 AD behind the city walls, and was so famous for the shows and games staged there that people came from afar to witness them.

Today it is internationally famous for the large-scale opera performances given there.

Climbing to the top of the Arena gives one a wonderful panorama view of the street below.

The vaults beneath the stadium are in excellent condition, partly due to the perfect system of hydraulic drainage which leads away any water filtered down into it.

And or course no visit to such a place would be complete without a Gladiator.



From the Arena we found our way to the Castelvecchio on the Adige River. The huge manor house with a mighty crenelated bridge was built by the Della Scala family in the 14th century. Built to carry out its function of defense and war its towers, courtyards, & passageways intersect and cross over communal walls and Roman fragments. This "3 clock tower" stands guard over the main entrance and moot.

The wide, spacious courtyard, once a parade ground for troops, is surrounded by solid walls dominated by mighty towers.

After vigorous restoration begun in 1957, the castle now houses the Civic Museum and what is considered the most interesting art collection in all of Europe.

The bridge as with the castle itself was built of solid and uniformly red brick.

The view of the Adige River and surrounding countryside from the bridge and castle wall is truly beautiful.

Walking back towards our hotel I saw in a restaurant window what has to be the biggest drip candle(s) I have ever seen.

The Plaza Delle Erbe is the most celebrated and animated areas in all Verona. It is surrounded by beautiful buildings, the most beautiful being the Municipal Chambers and the Fountain of Our Lady Verona with has run continuously for over 200 years. The statue is Roman from the IV Century and the fountain on which it rests was created in 1368

The Berlina, which stands at the end of the fruit and vegetable stalls under white umbrellas, already existed in the 13th century and the Praetorians sat under it for the swearing in ceremonies.

The gate constitutes the western facade of the city wall and was built between 50 and 40 BC and was the main entrance to the city.

The street in this area are span by series of high bridges joining buildings on either side.

The old Della Scala Family home, now the Seat of the Prefecture, began in the 12th century but was only completed in the 14th century.

There is a elevator in the tower which allows one access to the top of the tower. From that height a view of the entire city is possible,

And in the distance on the hill of San Leonardo the sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes can be seen

No day in Verona qould be complete without a visit to Juliet's home, made famous by Shakespeare's love story, Romeo and Juliet.

From this perspective both her statue and the famous balcony can be seen.

Evidence of the popularity of this site are the walls on either side of the entrance to the courtyard. Lovers of all ages traditionally leave a written sign of their visit as a token of their feelings.

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