The Casa di Romeo is a plain, 13th Century house which tradition
says that the dwelling belonged to the Montecchi, or
Montagues, though some scholars say that the house actually belonged to some
Cagnolo Nogarola. The building is not
particularly impressive but is one of the oldest in Verona. The façade is brick and still has remains of the original
battlements. One would easily miss the place without the memorial plaque.
Castelvecchio
The Castelvecchio or the Old Castle is a fairy-tale place of brick towers and turrets,
protecting the bridge behind it. It was commissioned in 1354 by the Scaligeri
warlord Cangrande II to serve the dual role of residential palace and military
stronghold. It survived centuries of occupation, first by the Visconti family, then
the Serene Republic of Venice, and then Napoléon. It was destroyed by the
Germans during World War II bombing. Its restoration was started in 1958 by the
acclaimed Venetian architect Carlos Scarpa, and it reopened in 1964. It is now
a fascinating museum with some 400 works of art.
The ground-floor rooms, displaying statues and carvings of
the Middle Ages, lead to a labyrinth of alleyways,
vaulted halls, multileveled floors, and stairs, all as architecturally fascinating
as the Venetian masterworks from the 14th to 18th centuries. Most interesting are those works by
Tintoretto, Tiepolo, Veronese, Bellini, and the Verona-born Pisanello. Don't
miss the large courtyard with the equestrian statue of the warlord Cangrande I with
a peculiar dragon's head affixed to his back (actually his armor's helmet,
removed from his head and resting behind him.
Piazza dei Signoria
Situated behind the busy Piazza Erbe, this central square is
dominated by a statue of Dante made in 1865. Its
perimeter is surrounded by historical buildings which accentuate the important
role the place has played in the city's political life. On the piazza we find
the Palazzo del Comune, the Palazzo della Prefettura, the Palazzo del
Capitanio, the Loggia del Consiglio and the Domus Nova. The buildings are
joined with elegant arches, mostly dating from the 14th century. There are wide
ranges of styles, which are nevertheless characterized by great harmony.