VERONA: THE PROVINCE
The Province of Verona borders with:
- the Province of Trento to the north;
- the Provinces of Vicenza and Padua to the East;
- the Province of Rovigo to the south;
- the Province of Mantova to the south-west; and
- the Province of Brescia to the west.
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GEOGRAPHY
The territory of Verona is rather varied: there are plains to the south, hills in the centre and mountains to the north.
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LAKE GARDA
Lake Garda is the largest of all the lakes in Italy and has a very favourable climate. Thanks to this mild climate, its shore is rich in vegetation such as lemon trees, citrus, laurels, palms and other exotic plants. Cypress and olive trees give this landscape character and give it an aspect of rare beauty. The Gardesana highway which hugs the shore of Lake Garda offers innumerable picturesque scenaries. Only the west side of the lake is part of the province of Verona.
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THE MOUNTAINS
The Baldo chain is an impressive and characteristic mountain form that stretches along much of the western side of Lake Garda. These mountains descend rapidly towards the lake with steep slopes and deep gorges. The western side of the mountain chain is intersected with valleys and green pastures.
Mount Baldo is a legendary place: it is said that witches, fairies, wizards and goblins have passed by here. In reality, many guides and soldiers as well as famous botanists have passed by. In fact, this area is renowned for rare herbs and acts as a reserve for precious ornamental, aromatic and medicinal plants.
On the other side of the Adige valley on finds the Lessini mountain range, an important group of Dolomite Mountains, which are part of the pre-Alps of the Veneto. The characteristic of these mountains is that they are subject to weathering, and slowly fade into the plains.
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THE VALLEYS
The most beautiful and renowned valley in Verona is certainly the Valpolicella: a vast valley which is well cultivated with fruit groves, vegetable farms and vineyards. Towards is central part and on the hills one finds long rows of vineyards which give the fruit for those exquisite red and white wines, for which the Valpolicella is famous.
Other valleys are found between the various chains of the Lessini range: Val Pantena, Valle do Squaranto, Valle d’Illasi and the Valle dell’Alpone.
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THE RIVERS
The Adige is the great river of the Province of Verona. It begins in the Lagarina Valley in the Province of Trento, and ambles towards Verona City by covering much of the interior of the Province and then heads off towards the Provinces of Padua and Rovigo.
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A TOUR OF THE PROVINCE OF VERONA
The more important locations along the shore of Lake Garda are:
Peschiera del Garda: surrounded by massive walls erected by the Venetians in the 15th Century;
Lazise: with its picturesque medieval walls, a turreted castle and a small tranquil port;
Bardolino: it also has a beautiful castle and great parks around its bay, but it is most famous for its wines;
Garda: the city for which the lake is names is rich with villas and has a beautiful lakeside;
Torri del Benaco: “Benacus” was the Latin name of Lake Garda; it is renowned for its marble quarries;
Malcesine: a stopover with its imposing Castle Scaligero.
Along the main road leading to Vicenza, we have:
Soave: a city of character with its beautiful old buildings, turreted walls and Castle. Soave is noted for its exquisite white wines which are known as “Soave”.
San Bonifacio: there is the interesting Abbey of St. Peter the Apostle from the 12th Century which is rich with frescoes and has an imposing bell tower.
Legnago is situated on the road from Verona to Rovigo and is a flourishing agricultural and industrial centre along the Adige River.
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FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM THE PROVINCE OF VERONA
Caio Valerio Catullo from Verona (87 – 54 BC),: great Italian poet.
Paolo Veronese from Verona (1528-1588): this is the more noted name of the celebrated artist Paolo Caliari.
Antonio Salieri from Legnago (1750-1825): famous musician.
Ippoloto Pindemonte from Verona (1753-1828): poet.
Aleardo Aleardi from Verona (1812-1878): patriot and poet.
Angelo Dall’Oca Bianca from Verona (1858-1942): painter.
Renato Simoni from Verona (1875-1952), playwright and journalist.
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VERONA CITY, CAPITAL OF THE PROVINCE
Verona City extends on the two shores of the Adige River, at the foothills of the Lessini Mountains and at the centre of a very attractive panorama. Verona has grown and greatly transformed itself in recent times with many new buildings being erected. Its renowned “International exhibition” attracts each year an increasing number of visitors.
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THE HISTORY OF VERONA CITY
Verona City, founded by the ancient peoples of the Reti and the Euganei, later occupied by the Etruscans and the Gaul, began to flourish as a Roman colony in 89 BC. The number and grandiosity of its monuments from that era that remain to this day demonstrate its importance. It subsequently was occupied by the Ostrogoti, later by the Longobardi and then by the Francs. In the 12th century, Verona establishes itself as a free city, but then falls under the tyranny of Exxelino da Romano from 1227 to 1259. With his death it passes under the dominion of the Scaligeri.
Cangrande I della Scala, gallant warrior and sage prince, is able to make Verona one of the most powerful and splendid Italian centres of the 13th Century. He embellished it with magnificent monuments which can be admired to this day.
The successors of Cangrande did not know how to maintain the grandeur of Verona: in 1387 the city passes to the Viscounts and in 1405 it falls under the dominion of Venice. Verona always remained faithful to the Serenissima (Venice) and in this period of 4 Centuries, it enjoys a period of peace and fervour.
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PRINCIPLE MONUMENTS AND BUILDINGS
The Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore: a great work of Roman art;
The Basilica of Saint Anastasia: gothic style, constructed between the 13th and 14th centuries;
The Duomo della Città: 12th Century structure with its ornamental façade;
San Fermo Maggiore: one of the most characteristic churches of Verona;
The church of San Giorgio in Braida: dominates the Adige river with its imposing cupola;
The Arena of Verona: from the 1st Century AD, one of the largest and best preserved Roman amphitheaters;
The Palazzo del Comune;
The Loggia del Consiglio;
The Arche Scaligere where the tombs of the Della Scala have been gathered;
The Castelvecchio which stretches out over the Adige river with its bold and decorated bridge;
The Scaligero Bridge;
The picturesque Teatro Romano, constructed in the 1st Century AD;
Piazza delle Erbe: full of colourful umbrellas it is one of the more famous squares in all of Italy.