Romatic Verona

Sunday, March 15, 2026

At around 09:40, we set off from Sirmione for Verona, with a brief stop to shop at MooRER Boutique & Outlet MooRER in Cavalcaselle. Both Inna and I purchased new jackets (heavily discounted from last year). Inna really liked the Italian design flair of the MooRER brand.

We continued our drive to Verona, parking at Parcheggio Saba Arena, conveniently located near the Arena di Verona.

Our first stop was the Arena di Verona amphitheater, located on Piazza Bra. There was a lot of construction around the Arena with large metal fences blocking off access. We were not able to enter it, but managed to peek inside. The Piazza Bra was teaming with people, restaurants, and shops.

Arena di Verona. is a 1st-century Roman amphitheater is one of the best-preserved in the world and still hosts concerts and opera.

Why it’s special

• Built around 30 AD

• Could hold 30,000 spectators

• Famous summer opera festival

From Piazza Bra, we walked toward Piazza delle Erbe, stopping to look at various shops (there were lots of big brand-name fashion stores, like in Milan) and some street performers.

Piazza delle Erbe is lively medieval square built on the site of the ancient Roman forum.

Look for:

• Madonna Verona Fountain

• Lamberti Tower (we did not go inside)

• Colorful frescoed palaces

From here, we walked toward Juliet’s House (a fake balcony, for Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet). There was nothing special here, so we continued on to the Scaliger Tombs.

These are the elaborate tombs of the Scaliger family, the powerful rulers of Verona during the 13th–14th centuries. They sit right next to Piazza dei Signori, enclosed by a decorative iron fence.

Think of them less as simple graves and more like mini Gothic cathedrals in stone.

Unlike typical tombs, these are:

• Highly vertical and spired (almost like rockets pointing upward)

• Covered in detailed carvings and statues

• Designed to project power and prestige—even in death

They’re considered one of the finest examples of Gothic funerary art in Europe.

1. Cangrande I della Scala

The most important and visually striking tomb.

• Features a smiling equestrian statue of Cangrande

• The original statue is inside Castelvecchio, with a replica outside

• He was a major patron of Dante Alighieri

His tomb feels almost celebratory—unusual for a medieval monument.

From here, we continued on to Piazza dei Signori.

Piazza dei Signori is a quieter, elegant square surrounded by palaces.

Highlights:

• Statue of Dante Alighieri

• Gothic tombs of the powerful Scaligeri family

Regarding Dante Alighieri:

Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) is one of the most important figures in world literature—the man who essentially defined the Italian language and gave us one of the greatest works ever written, the Divine Comedy.

Dante was:

• A poet, philosopher, and political thinker

• Born in Florence

• Deeply involved in the politics of his time

He lived during a turbulent era when Italian cities were divided between rival factions (notably the Guelphs and Ghibellines). His political involvement eventually led to his exile from Florence, which shaped much of his writing.

His most famous work: The Divine Comedy, was divided into 3 parts:

• Inferno (Hell)

• Purgatorio (Purgatory)

• Paradiso (Heaven)

It describes a journey through the afterlife, guided first by the Roman poet Virgil, and later by Beatrice, Dante’s idealized love.

Why it matters

• Written in Italian (Tuscan dialect) instead of Latin → helped standardize modern Italian

• Combines theology, politics, philosophy, and personal emotion

• Introduced vivid images of Hell that still influence culture today

Dante and Verona

• He lived in exile for years and was hosted in Verona

• Protected by Cangrande I della Scala, the same ruler honored in the Scaliger Tombs

• A statue of Dante stands in Piazza dei Signori

Verona was one of the places where he continued writing the Divine Comedy.

Dante’s impact is enormous:

• Called the “Father of the Italian language”

• Helped shape Western ideas of the afterlife

• Influenced writers from Geoffrey Chaucer to T. S. Eliot

Even today, phrases and images from Inferno are everywhere in books, movies, and art.

For lunch, we decided to visit the Antica Bottega del Vino, sitting indoors and ordering the following:

• Appetizer: Risotto Amarone (based on local Amarone wine)
• Appetizer: Gallina (Chicken)
• Main: Guancia (Beef Cheeks)
• Wine: Azienda Agricola Brigaldara

After lunch, we wandered around the city, stopping at the Verona Duomo. It was much more beautiful inside.

The Verona Duomo is the city’s main church—less flashy than the Arena, but arguably more beautiful and layered, with over 800 years of history.

• Officially called Santa Maria Matricolare

• Built in Romanesque style (12th century), with later Gothic and Renaissance additions

• Part of a complex that includes other churches and a cloister

It sits in a quieter area near the Adige River, which gives it a more peaceful, local feel.

1. The façade & entrance

• Made of warm Veronese stone

• Beautiful carved portal with biblical scenes

• Guarded by two stylized lions (very typical of Romanesque churches)

2. The nave

• Striking alternating red and white marble columns

• High ceilings and a sense of calm, unlike busier Italian cathedrals

3. Titian’s masterpiece

• Assumption of the Virgin by Titian

It’s a massive, glowing painting behind the altar, full of movement and color—one of the Duomo’s true treasures.

From the Duomo, we walked along the Adige River toward the famous Castelvecchio Bridge.

There were a few street musicians playing on the bridge, and we took lots of photos. On the way back, we decided to stop by for a quick gelato at X.

 

Links

• MooRER Boutique & Outlet MooRER in Cavalcaselle
• Parcheggio Saba Arena, Verona
• Arena di Verona
• Antica Bottega del Vino