Its historical centre boasts many magnificient Roman ruins, second only to those of the "Caput Mundi": Rome. Infact, the monument for which Verona is famous in the entire world is its Roman Arena. It dates back to the 1st century A.D. to hold various events and wrestling matches and where every summer takes place spectacular open-air operas and concerts. This great amphititheatre could hold up to 25.000 spectators and its interior is still perfectly preserved (even the acoustic), wheareas the exterior wall fell during an earthquake and there is only a portion, called the Ala, still standig
The Arena not has to be confiused with the Roman Theatre, which stood in front of Ponte Postumio, spreading its ample arch of stepped seating on the side of the hill behind, is still used today for summer theatrical events. Other important remains of a very prosperous age are the Stone Bridge, the Gavi Arch and the monumental gates (Porta Borsari and the Porta Leona). These monuments are the sign of the great importance of this town in the in the Roman Age. Probably founded by the Veneti, it became a Roman town in 49 B.C. It became Christian in the 4th century, till it became the beloved city of Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoth kingdom in the middie of the 5th century, then a Longobardic dukedom and the seat of Pipin, King of Italy under the Carolingian Empire. In the 11th century Verona was joined to the Mark of Bavaria and in 1136 it became a municipality. Verona was the papal seat of Pope Lucius III (Ubaldo Allucignoli di Lucca) from 1181 to 1185, the year when the Conclave which elected Pope Urban III was held in Verona. Pope Lucius III is buried in the choir of the Cathedral, where there is a memorial stone inscribed to him . Having come under the power of Ezzelino da Romano, it came under the dominion of the Scaliger family, whose seigniory lasted from 1277 until 1387, when it fell into the hands of the Viscontis. In 1405 Verona voluntarily offered itself to the Venetians, under whose government it remained until 1796, when the Republic of Venice was invaded by Napoleon. After the short-lived rule of the Kingdom of Italy Verona was occupied by the Austrians in 1814. Verona, with the whole Veneto became part of the newborn Italian Reign only in 1866.
The name of Verona is also known throughout the world because of Shakespeare's tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. The places where, according to the tradition, the two young lovers lived and died are visited by thousands of tourists and lovers every year. Only a few paces from Piazza Erbe, at number 27 of Via Cappello, there is the Juliet's House (La Casa di Giulietta), once owned by the Dal Cappello, or Capulet, family. A small marble balcony records the most famous verses of Shakespeare's tragedy, in which Romeo declares his love for Juliet as she stands on the balcony. Again according to the legend, this was the house where the beautiful Juliet the most famous of all Shakespeare's heroines, lived. It probably dates back to the 13th century, and has a brick façade with large trilobate windows.
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