Verona: Art and History

This beautiful book about Verona is published by the Italian publishing house Bonechi, which specializes in picture books about famous places around the world. It is a volume in the popular series called “Art and History.”

Books from Bonechi are published in several languages. I have used an English edition published a few years ago. The English translation is excellent.

Verona is a city in the north of Italy. It is famous as the place where Romeo and Juliet lived and died. Perhaps it is better to say: legend has it that they lived and died in this city. The subtitle of the book is a direct reference to the tragic and romantic event: The city of Romeo and Juliet: A Love Story.

But Verona is much more than this. It is a modern city with an international airport. It is a living museum with a large number of historical monuments from Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The history of the city can be divided into five key periods:

(1) In Antiquity it became a part of the Roman Empire (ca. 225 BC-ca AD 450). (2) Towards the end of the Middle Ages it was governed by a local family, whose name is della Scala (1259-1389). (3) During the Renaissance it was ruled by Venice (1405-1796). (4) During a large part of the 19th century it was ruled by France or Austria (1796-1866). (5) Since 1866 it has been a part of the modern state Italy, which was established in 1861.

The text is divided into nine sections. Here are the headlines:

* Zone 1 – PIAZZA BRA
* Zone 2 – PIAZZA DELLE ERBE
* Zone 3 – THE CITY OF ROMEO AND JULIET

* Zone 4 – FROM SAINT SANT’ANASTASIA TO THE ROMAN THEATRE
* Zone 5 – THE AREA AROUND THE CATHEDRAL
* Zone 6 – CASTELVECCHIO

* Zone 7 – SAN ZENO
* Zone 8 – SAN FERMO
* Zone 9 – THE SURROUNDINGS

Each section (except the last one) opens with a summary and a three-dimensional map which shows the location of the important monuments and buildings in the area.

The City of Romeo and Juliet (zone 3) gets six pages with text, pictures and maps of the relevant locations. This is not much is a book which runs to more than 150 pages, but I think it is enough, because Verona is so much more than this legend.

For reasons of space I can only mention a few of the many interesting monuments and buildings which are presented in the book.

In zone 1 we find the ancient Roman amphitheatre, where operas and concerts are staged during the summer season. In zone 4 we find the ancient Roman theatre, where plays are staged during the summer season. In zone 6 we find the old castle built by the local ruling family, della Scala.

The book is lavishly illustrated with photos, paintings, drawings and maps. All illustrations are in colour except for a few old drawings and photos which are in black-and-white. The size of the illustrations is often large, the quality is always high. The maps are very helpful, because they give the reader instant orientation. The pictures are placed next to the relevant text. Some pictures give us the grand view, while others present a small but interesting detail. Let me mention a few examples from the description of Piazza dei Signori:

On page 38 we have the whole square seen from the air; on page 40 we have the statue of the famous Italian author Dante, who lived in this city for a while, because he was exiled from his native Florence (Firenze); and on page 41 we have a plaque on the wall with an inscription in ancient Italian:

 

Denunzie secret contro usuarj et contrati usuratici di qualcunque sorte.

 

Below the inscription there is a letterbox. This is where citizens of Verona could give the authorities anonymous denunciations against unfair contracts of any kind.

It is a pleasure to read the text and study the pictures in this book. I have only two minor complaints against the text:

(1) On page 37 the façade of Palazzo Maffei is presented:

“It culminates in an agile balcony decorated with statues of six divinities (Jupiter, Apollo, Venus, Minerva and Hercules).”

The names are correct, but the order is confused. From left to right the order is as follows: Hercules, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Apollo and Minerva.

[Hercules is holding a club; Minerva is wearing a warrior’s helmet; while Mercury is wearing a special hat with wings.]

(2) On pages 42-43 the façade of Loggia del Consiglio is presented:

“The cornice above supports five statues by Alberto da Milano. These statues represent the five most illustrious men from Verona in Roman times: Catullus, Pliny, Marcus, Vitruvius, [and] Cornelius Nepos.”

These five persons were born in Verona or at least in the north of Italy. The names are correct - except Marcus should be Aemilius Macer - but the order is confused. From left to right the order is as follows: Vitruvius, Catullus, Pliny (the Younger), Aemilius Macer and Cornelius Nepos.

We have no ancient portraits of these persons. Perhaps this is why the modern statues look almost the same. They are based on the imagination of the artist.

Verona is a charming city. If you have never been there, you may still enjoy this book. The text gives you basic information, and the pictures are splendid. When you look at them, you may be able to understand why so many people visit this city every year.

If you have been there, I am sure you will appreciate this book as a valuable souvenir from one of the most fascinating places in Italy - and the world.

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Verona: Art and History,
Bonechi, 2000, 160 pages

 

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