The City of Verona was established in the 1st century BC as a Roman colony. The city would thrive in the 13th and 14th centuries AD under the leadership of Scalinger Family and in the 15th to 18th century as part of the larger Republic of Venice.

Verona is home to some of the best preserved monuments from the medieval and renaissance periods – representing a classic example of a military stronghold. With a history that spans 2 millenniums, and bearing the hallmarks of each of the empires that ruled over it during those years, Verona is perhaps second only to Rome in terms of Italian national heritage.

History of the City

The city is located on the foot of Mount Lessini along the banks of River Adige. After it was formed, it rose in importance rapidly. Below is a brief synopsis of the city’s history.

1st Century BC – The city was founded as a Roman colony

5th century – The city was occupied by Ostrogoth Theodoric

I774 – The city was occupied by Lombards and Sharlemagne

12th Century – It became an independent commune, but suffered loss during the Ghibelines and Guelphs families struggles.

1405 – The city fell to Venice

1797 – The city became part of the Austrian Empire

1866 – The city joined the Kingdom of Italy.

Attractions in the City

1. Piazza delle Erbe (with its picturesque vegetable market)

2. The Piazza dei Signori

3. Palazzo del Comune

4. Palazzo del Governo

5. Loggia del Consiglio

6. Arche Scaligere

7. Domus Nova

8. The Piazza Bra with its classicist buildings

9. The churches of Santi Nazaro e Celso, Santa Maria in Organo, San Giorgio, San Tomaso, San Bernardino, and Sant'Eufemia

10. The palaces of Canossa, Pompei and Bevilacqua

11. The gates of Porta Palio, Porta Nuova, Porta Vescovo and Porta San Zeno

12. The Bishop's Palace

13. The Giusti Garden and Palace

14. Castel San Pietro

15. The Caserma Santa Marta

Verona is home to the richest Roman remains in northern Italy. The list of attractions in the city cannot clearly be exhausted by one blog post. The destination is cheap enough …at least not as expensive as Rome or Venice. It is the kind of city you visit with your family without draining your savings account.

By Kennedy Runo on 05/19/2015 in Verona