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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.
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