The BEST 12 Interesting Facts About Verona, Italy (unique facts!)
Did you know that Verona was once the residence of the Kings of Italy?
Oh and trust me, it’s not the only interesting thing about this city.
Keep reading to learn 12 more interesting facts about Verona!
The Main Verona Facts
1. Verona is more than 2,000 years old
While the precise origins of Verona are unclear, one thing is for sure: it’s a very ancient city.
The Romans took the city in 89 BCE, which makes the city over 2,000 years old. There are still monuments dating from this ancient time in Verona, such as the Arena, a massive colosseum.
View of the Piazza delle Erbe, the main square in Verona
2. It was captured by Charlemagne in 774
Since 569, Verona was part of the Lombard Kingdom, under the rule of Alboin, King of the Lombards.
In 774, the city was taken by Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, King of the Franks. Charlemagne became King of the Lombards after the conquest of Verona, and later became Emperor of the Romans in 800.
Medieval statue in Verona
3. The city was French, then Austrian, and then finally Italian
And all of this happened in recent years! Verona became French in 1797, when Napoleon conquered the city.
He quickly lost the city to a populace uprising, and gave the city to Austria in 1798.
And finally the city returned to the Italians in 1866, when the Austrians left Verona, which thus became Italian again.
4. Fog is very common in the city
Verona is located pretty close to Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy.
The proximity of the lake creates a very humid atmosphere, all year round. The humidity is at its peak in winter, and it creates a layer of fog over the city in many mornings.
This proximity also makes Lake Garda a favorite day trip destination in the area.
5. Romeo and Juliet is based on Verona
Did you know that the famous Romeo and Juliet play by William Shakespeare was set in Verona?
While it’s a fictional story, the two families (Montague and Capulet) really existed, and they were 2 influent families of Verona.
If you visit Verona, you can visit Juliet’s house, and the famous balcony. You’ll also see a bronze statue of Juliet, and tradition has it that rubbing the right breast of the statue will bring love and fertility.
The famous balcony of Juliet’s house
6. It’s listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Verona has such a rich history, and was an important city throughout the years. There are several monuments in the city that are still in great shape, even though they date all the way back to antiquity and the Middle Ages.
This comes as no surprise that Verona was recognized by the UNESCO as a city with outstanding universal value, and listed as a World Heritage Site.
As such, it’s a must visit in any road trip in the north of Italy!
7. The Verona Arena is the 3rd largest Roman amphitheater in Italy
The Arena is the most famous monument in Verona: it’s a Roman amphitheatre, built in 30 AD.
It’s similar to the Colosseum in Rome, and it’s the third largest in Italy, with a capacity of 30,000 spectators.
The building is incredibly well-preserved, and definitely worth a visit if you’re in Verona!
8. The city was badly damaged during World War II
Verona was a strategic city during World War II and as such, it was the prime target for Allied raids.
The city was one of the most bombed cities in Italy, and it got badly damaged. To make it even worse, when the German fled the city in 1945, they destroyed all the beautiful bridges behind them.
Since then, the city has been rebuilt, and it’s impressive to see the before/after photos.
The Puente Pietra fully rebuilt
9. The city has 3 professional football teams (yes, 3!)
Yep, football is pretty important in Verona.
The city has no less than 3 professional football teams: the Hellas Verona, the Chievo Verona, and the Virtus Vecomp Verona.
The first 2 teams play in the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi, the 8th biggest stadium in Italy.
10. Verona is the capital of the Verona province
This is one of the Verona fun facts: the city of Verona is the capital of the Verona province. Yes, that’s the same name.
It belongs to the region of Veneto, and it’s the second biggest city in the region, after Venice.
11. A stone wall surrounds the historic center of the city
It’s not the most famous part of the city, but the center of the city is protected by fortified walls, that were built by the Romans in the 3rd century BC.
The walls can reach up to 13 meters high at some point (42.6 feet), and were an important part of the city’s defense in history.
They were also used heavily in the 19th century, as part of the Austrian defense, who even added to the fortified wall.
12. The Scala Family made Verona into one of the most important cities of Italy
And finally the last of our Verona facts, about one of the most important families in Verona’s history: the Scala Family.
The Della Scala family ruled Verona from the 13th century to the 14th century, and they brought the city to a period of wealth. They built many sumptuous monuments in the town, that you can recognize by the ladder emblem, symbol of the family.
So there you have them, the 12 interesting facts about Verona Italy!
If you want to learn more about the city, keep reading for some general facts and info.
Where is Verona? Verona on a Map
Verona is in the Verona province, but you already knew that. To help you visualize better where is Verona, I’ve put it on the map of Italy for you.
It’s located between Milan and Venice, in the north of the country. It’s a perfect stop to include in a Northern Italy road trip.
General Verona Italy Facts
You’ll find below a few general Verona Italy facts, to learn more about this Italian city:
- Name: Verona
- Province: Verona
- Region: Veneto
- Land area: 203.6 km² / 78.8 square miles
- Population: 258 108
- Name of inhabitants: Veronese
- Website: Turismo Verona
Verona Flag
More Facts!
Do you want even more facts about Italy?
Check out the following posts:
Or click here to see ALL the facts up on the blog! Spoiler alert: there is A LOT of them.
The Full List of 12 Verona Facts
- Verona is more than 2,000 years old
- It was captured by Charlemagne in 774
- The city was French, then Austrian, and then finally Italian
- Fog is very common in the city
- Romeo and Juliet is based on Verona
- It’s listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The Verona Arena is the 3rd largest Roman amphitheater in Italy
- The city was badly damaged during World War II
- The city has 3 professional football teams (yes, 3!)
- Verona is the capital of the Verona province
- A stone wall surrounds the historic center of the city
- The Scala Family made Verona into one of the most important cities of Italy
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