Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ona's 12th-century cathedral is a striking, striped Romanesque building, with polychrome
reliefs and the bug-eyed statues of Charlemagne's paladins Roland and Oliver, crafted by
medieval master Nicolò, on the west porch. Nothing about this sober facade hints at the
extravagant interior, frescoed over during the 16th to 17th centuries with angels aloft amid
trompe l'oeil architecture. At the left end of the nave is the Cartolari-Nichesola Chapel , de-
signed by Renaissance master Jacopo Sansovino and featuring a vibrant Titian Assump-
tion .
Teatro Romano e Museo Archeologico
MAP GOOGLE MAP
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
( 045 800 03 60; Regaste Redentore 2; adult/reduced €4.50/3, or with VeronaCard; 8.30am-7.30pm Tue-Sun,
1.30-7.30pm Mon) Just north of the historic centre you'll find a Roman theatre. Built in the 1st
century BC, it is cunningly carved into the hillside at a strategic spot overlooking a bend
in the river. Take the lift at the back of the theatre to the former convent above, which
houses an engaging collection of Roman-era bronzes, beautifully carved friezes and
brightly coloured mosaics.
Giardino Giusti
( 045 803 40 29; Via Giardino Giusti 2; adult/reduced €6/5; 9am-8pm Apr-Sep, to 7pm Oct-Mar) Across the
river from the historic centre, these lush gardens, considered a masterpiece of Renaissance
landscaping, are well worth seeking out. Named after the noble family that has looked
after them since opening them to the public in 1591, the gardens have lost none of their
charm over the centuries. The vegetation is an Italianate mix of the sculpted and natural,
graced by soaring cypresses, one of which the German poet Goethe immortalised in his
travel writings. At the back of the garden, a short but steep climb rewards with sweeping
views over the city.
GARDEN
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
PONTE PIETRA
At the northern edge of the city centre, this bridge is a quiet but remarkable testament to the Italians' love of their
artistic heritage. Two of the bridge's arches date from the Roman Republican era in the 1st century BC, while the
other three were replaced in the 13th century. The ancient bridge remained largely intact until 1945, when retreat-
ing German troops blew it up. Locals fished the fragments out of the river, and painstakingly rebuilt the bridge
stone by stone in the 1950s.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search