Verona is a city in northern Italy located on the Adige River with over 265,000 inhabitants. It has a rich artistic heritage and is the setting for three of Shakespeare's plays, leading to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has a long history, originally inhabited by the Euganei people before becoming a Roman colony in 89 BC. In the medieval era, Verona was dominated by its many towers and ruled by powerful families who expanded and beautified the city. Today, Verona is best known as the legendary location of the story of Romeo and Juliet, though the historical accuracy is uncertain.

2. Verona is a city straddling
the ADIGE river in Veneto northern
Italy, with approximately 265,000
inhabitants
It is one of the main tourist
destinations in northern Italy, owing
to its artistic heritage.
Three of Shakespeare's plays are set
in Verona: Romeo and Juliet, The
Two Gentlemen of Verona,
and The Taming of the Shrew. The
city has been awarded World
Heritage Site status
by UNESCO because of its urban
structure and architecture.

3. The origins of Verona are unclear.
According to some theories it was a city of the Euganei (a
semi-mythical Proto-Italic ethnic group that dwelt an area
among Adriatic Sea and Rhaetian Alps ), who were obliged
to cede the city to the Cenomani (was an ancient tribe of
the Cisalpine Gauls, who occupied the tract north of the
Padus river) circa 550 BC.
Other scholars link its foundation to the presence of
the Arusnates in the area, a people of uncertain origins,
perhaps taped to the Etruscans: the name would have
meant "Venetian city on the river" in the Etruscan language.
The relationship between Verona and Ancient Rome was
usually one of friendship or alliance.

4. Verona became a
Roman colony in the
year 89 BC, receiving
the franchise in and
became a municipium
(was a social contract
between municipes, the
"duty holders," or
citizens of the town.

5. In early middle ages
Verona was taken by
Ostrogoths, Byzantines and
Lombards until 774, when
Adalgisus made his stand
against Charlemagne.
Verona was then the
ordinary residence of the
kings of Italy. The
government of the city
became hereditary in the
family of Count Milo.

6. Medieval Verona was
dominated by its forty-eight
towers. The increasing wealth
of the burgher families
eclipsed the power of the
counts, and in 1100 Verona
was organized as a free
commune.
The city was ruled by
Scaligeri who beautified the
city with palaces, provided it
with aqueducts and bridges,
and founded the state
treasury.

7. In that era Verona
was recovered by the aid of
popular risings.
The peace led to a period of
economic, cultural and artistic
splendour for Verona. The city
was embellished by a great
number of palaces, churches
and convents, many designed by
the architect Michele Sanmicheli.
The population rose to 55,000 by
1626, but a plague in 1630
reduced it to some 20,000.

8.  Verona was conquered
by Napoleon in 1797.
In 1797 Verona became
Austrian territory when
Napoleon signed the Treaty
of Campo Formio.
During World War II Verona
was one of the most
bombed cities in the area,
due to its strategic position
and the presence of
ministries of the Italian
Social Republic.

10. Beside great wines produced in its territory, Verona is
world wide famous also for the legend of Romeo and Juliet.
Of course we do not know if Romeo and Juliet ever lived in
Verona, but like in every legend there are historical
elements inside the story.
The two families, Montagues and Capulets , really lived in
Verona at the end of the 13th Century. At that time in
Northern Italy there was the feud between the Pope
party and the Emperor party. Even inside the same town
families belonging to one party or the other where
enemies. The Montagues where among the most important
emperor supporting families, and even if there aren’t
historical proofs, many believe that the Capulets supported
the Pope.
This is probably the scenario in which the story of Romeo
and Juliet developed.
Today in the city center of Verona there are still many
places related to the legend that Shakespeare made famous.

11. Teacher: Paraskevoulakou Anastasia 2015-2016
Ionidios Modal Experimental Junior High School