Italian Verona - sights, legends, history

Remember Shakespeare: "There is no sadder story in the world ..."? But his famous Romeo and Juliet is from here - a small Italian town of Verona, which, thanks to the English playwright and a touching, romantic history, has become for the educated people of the whole world the city of Love.

In general, Verona does not hide its sights and generously shares them with the numerous tourists who visit this city with pleasure. And right, there is something to see! These places were mastered by people in prehistoric times. Because modern Verona stands on the most ancient human settlements. The city itself is nestled in the north-eastern part of Italy, along the Adige River. In 30 km outside the city there is a large Lake Garda. The lake and the river are so full that Verona regularly underwent floods until the mid-1950s. last century. And only when in 1956 the city was built a tunnel, one of the largest in Italy, the city sighed freely. In fact, with the danger of flooding through the tunnel from the river to the lake for a second moves about 500 cubes of water. That's why the Veronese were poor before!

Visiting the Eternal Lovers

But, of course, tourists who come to the city are attracted to themselves, first of all, the houses where Romeo and Juliet lived, and everything connected with them. That is why - welcome, Verona, these attractions are trying to save for descendants. The Dahl Capello family, i.e. The Capulets in Shakespeare, lived here, along Capello Street, now number 23. The building is the oldest, the construction of the 13th century. The facade of the house is decorated with the coat of arms of the family - a hat made of marble ("capello" in Italian - "hat"). What did not exist in this building - both a patrimonial nest, and an inn, and a small private hotel. Naturally, the building eventually fell into decay. And only when in the beginning of the 20th century the state organs purchased the house and arranged a museum in it, it began a second life. This happened thanks to the release on the big screens in 1936 of the movie "Romeo and Juliet" directed by Cukor. Then Verona attractions Appreciated the dignity: the city began the pilgrimage of lovers and romantics, literary critics and art historians. It was at that time that the restoration of the house was carried out in the spirit of the scenery of the film, and the interior interior was also arranged in the same way.

Another director, Franco Dzaffireli, took in 1968 his "Romeo and Juliet", after which a new wave of Shakespearean history began in the world. Then they cast bronze and installed a statue of Juliet in the courtyard. Every visitor of the House, even great skeptics, tries to touch her right breast - this will bring a happy, long love. And in the House of the scenery of both films, actors' costumes and other props complemented the museum exhibits. And very many Italian couples and even foreigners tend to kiss under the balcony, where the heroes first talked - after that, according to legend, nothing will separate them. Wedding ceremonies are also held here, dressed up in appropriate costumes. And the newlyweds are handed certificates from the family of Montague and Capulet, in which the legitimacy of the relationship is affirmed. It is worth a similar action is not cheap, but after all, you want to spend your wedding once in your life ... That's how enterprising Verona sights of antiquity connect with modernity.

Of course, the Tomb of the heroine of Shakespeare's tragedy is of considerable interest. The church, where it is, stands on the Via del Pontery. It represents a red marble sarcophagus in an old Capuchin monastery. The object is under the protection of the museum, and in fact it was a drinking bowl for livestock! Here it is, the transforming power of art!

And, finally, another building from our history is the home of Romeo, that is, of the Montague family. The city of Verona cherishes them, although somewhat differently. This building is also the 13th - 14th century, but it never turned into a museum exhibit. Initially, prevented the Second World War, then - the mansion became the private property of an enterprising Italian who, using the popularity of a love story and a huge influx of tourists into the city, opened a restaurant here. Of course, from visitors there is no release, but also the kitchen at it, for the sake of justice it is necessary to tell, simply excellent!

General recommendations

Tourists who purchased a tour to Verona, the trip will be very, very satisfied. After all, there are a lot of interesting places in the city with which you should definitely get acquainted. Do not forget that once he was a significant center of the Roman Empire in the early period of its existence. The Verona arena, an amphitheater built in 30th AD, the third largest in Italy, recalls and tells about this. Its capacity is 30 thousand spectators, and on its stage there are opera performances. There is an opinion that it is here that the parties from Romeo and Juliet sound better than in the most famous theaters of the world. Many remains of ancient monuments of architecture can be seen and even touched, finding themselves on the street of Port Borsari - in ancient times it was central in Verona. But the Erbe square is a big open-air market. From the abundance and variety of fruits and vegetables, visitors literally go around! Still a few rows of cozy cafes and bars, and in the evening it is from here that the indigenous Veronese begin their exercise. And this is not accidental: around it are built the most luxurious and famous palaces of the city, real masterpieces of architectural art in different centuries.

To list the attractions of Verona can be a long time. These are cathedrals and churches, basilicas and gardens, theatrical buildings and much more. So is not it better to look at everything with your own eyes, eh? Come to Verona - right, you will not regret!