Art in Verona
The best way to discover the beauty of Verona's art is to take a stroll through its wonderful streets and inhale simultaneously the beautiful remnants of the city's ancient Roman past and the elegantly stylish aspects of its modern Italian culture.
The oldest Roman construction in Verona is Ponte Pietra, the stone bridge whose arcs have joined the two banks of the city for nearly two thousands years, standing as a timepiece to the birth of Verona. The Roman Theatre and the Arena (the third largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheatre in the world) testify to a glorious ancient past. The Medieval Basilica di San Zeno is truly the jewel of Italian Romanesque art with its pinstripes of pink and white stone, while the high towers and fortified bridge of Castelvecchio show the flair and artistic integrity of the Medieval Scaligere court. Thanks to the attentive and inspired work of architect Carlo Scarpa, Castelvecchio was transformed into a beautiful art gallery in the 1960s which now showcases masterpieces by such Renaissance greats as Pisanello, Mantegna, Bellini as well as many other beautiful artefacts from across the ages. A short walk from Castelvecchio, sits the exquisite Arche Scaligere where the tombs of the famous family are crowned with knights on horseback, seemingly ready, in all their stony glory, to charge in a Medieval joust. In the sixteenth century, beautifully detailed artwork began spreading across the facades of the buildings. Frescoes of great mythological scenes (many of which still exist today) transformed Verona into a magical painted city. The ancient Roman Forum (in the Medieval market square) with its Renaissance frescoes and cloud-scraping clock tower, is today the heart of the Verona. Here, in Piazza Erbe, between the fruit stalls and outdoor cafés, foreigners and Veronese mix in a magical symphony of sounds and colours. Many travellers of the past, from Goethe to Ruskin, have visited and fallen in love with the city, passionately filling endless pages with descriptions of the charms and beauty of Verona. 
The travellers of today are equally in awe. An overwhelming and precious centre of art and history, Verona is a city of infinite surprises and curious discoveries: the glorious statues, the delicate friezes that ornament the buildings, the frescoes that constantly change with the varying light, the ancient Roman inscriptions carved in stone, the medieval windows nestled in bright ochre walls, the brimming fountains and opulent gardens... all make an unforgettable impression on the hearts and minds of visitors to the city.
