Verona & Padua
Descrizione in inglese delle principali attrazioni delle due città (2 pagine formato doc)
Verona’s roman amphiteatre, completed in AD 30, is the third largest in the world, after Rome’s Colosseum and the amphiteatre ai Capua.
Originally, the Arena could host almost the entire population of Roman Verona, and visitors came from across the Veneto to watch mock battles and gladiators combats. Since then, the Arena has been used for public executions, fairs, theatre performances, bullfighting and opera.
The interior has survived virtually intact, maintained by the Arena Conservators since 1580.
Prisoners of war, criminals and Christians died in their thousands in the name of entertainment.
Today, performances of Verdi’s Aida and other popular operas can attract a capacity crowd of 25,000.
CASTELVECCHIO
This spectacular castle, built by Cangrande II between 1355 and 1375, has been transformed into one of the Veneto’s finest art galleries. Various parts of the medieval structure have been linked together using aerial walk-ways and corridors.
The first section contains a wealth of late Roman and early Christian material.
The following section, which is devoted to medieval and early Renaissance art, vividly demonstrates the influence of northern art on local painters.
ARCO DEI GAVI
Originally the arch straddled the main Roman road into the city, today’s Corso Cavour. But French troops who were occupying Castelvecchio in 1805 damaged the monument so much that a decision was made to move it to its present, less conspicuous position just off the Corso in 1933.
The interior has survived virtually intact, maintained by the Arena Conservators since 1580.
Prisoners of war, criminals and Christians died in their thousands in the name of entertainment.
Today, performances of Verdi’s Aida and other popular operas can attract a capacity crowd of 25,000.
CASTELVECCHIO
This spectacular castle, built by Cangrande II between 1355 and 1375, has been transformed into one of the Veneto’s finest art galleries. Various parts of the medieval structure have been linked together using aerial walk-ways and corridors.
The first section contains a wealth of late Roman and early Christian material.
The following section, which is devoted to medieval and early Renaissance art, vividly demonstrates the influence of northern art on local painters.
ARCO DEI GAVI
Originally the arch straddled the main Roman road into the city, today’s Corso Cavour. But French troops who were occupying Castelvecchio in 1805 damaged the monument so much that a decision was made to move it to its present, less conspicuous position just off the Corso in 1933.