Venetian Age Verona Tour (The Renaissance)

In 1405 Verona became part of the possessions of the Republic of Venice. It remained under the rule of Venice for almost four hundred years. Verona lost its independence, but gained stability and security in return. In the meantime, the Renaissance spread. Thanks to artists such as Mantegna, Paolo Veronese, and Michele Sanmicheli the city was enriched with wonderful works of art and imposing monumental fortifications.

The itineraries and routes of Verona's guides allow organized groups and individual visitors to discover the richness and historical-artistic complexity of its Venetian period, with Renaissance art, Mannerism, Baroque styles, up to the first signs of Neoclassicism at the end of the 18th century.

Oncoming Tours

Venetian Verona Itineraries

Duration

Half Day:

Approximately 2h30'

Full Day:

Approximately 5h with lunch break

A guided tour of Venetian Verona can begin in Piazza Bra square. In Venetian times, where the equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II stands today, there was a large allegorical sculpture depicting the "la Dominante" (the Dominant), destroyed by the Jacobin fury of Napoleon's troops.

One side of the square is characterized by the Liston, the long paved walkway at the foot of a sequence of colorful palaces from the Venetian era that include a work by Sanmicheli, the main architect of this period: palazzo Guastaverza. Another side is occupied by Palazzo della Gran Guardia, an imposing late Renaissance building.

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Erbe Square

he tour of Venetian Verona now takes us to Piazza delle Erbe, the heart of the city. On one side of the square is the large column on which stands a sculpture of the lion of St. Mark. Immediately behind is Palazzo Maffei, a rare example of baroque architecture in Verona.

On one of the long sides are the Mazzanti Houses, completely frescoed in the mannerist style of the 16th century. In the Venetian era, so many of the buildings were painted in bright colors that Verona was nicknamed "urbs picta", painted town. One side of the square is closed off by the jewish ghetto, which was established following the directives issued by Venice at the beginning of the 16th century.

Signori Square

In the nearby Piazza dei Signori, the tour guide will show you the Loggia del Consiglio, one of the first Renaissance buildings in the Veneto region. It still amazes with its beauty and elegance. Not far away, on the walls of the Palazzo della Ragione, are the "bocche del leone" (lion's mouth), the openings in the wall where, in Venetian times, secret denunciations were made against usurers, smugglers and conspirators. On the Palazzo della Ragione one can still make out the outline of a lion of Saint Mark, brutally chiseled away by the French troops together with any sign of Venetian rule.

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The guided itinerary in the Venetian Verona can be integrated with the visit to some palaces and museums. For the deepening of the themes related to the Renaissance painting and architecture we recommend the visit to some important churches of Verona.

St Zeno and Mantegna

Sanmicheliane City Walls

The guided tour in the Venetian Verona can take you along the city walls, where you can admire the Renaissance architectural masterpieces created by architect Michele Sanmicheli, the main interpreter of the urban reorganization of the city under the Serenissima: Porta Nuova, Porta Palio and Porta San Zeno.

Castelvecchio Museum

St Bernardino

Taylor Made Itineraries

Our guided tours can be structured as half-day or full-day tours. Itineraries and timing will be agreed upon with your tour guide according to your specific interests and needs. Your excursion can be customized with optional visits.

In the Outskirts

As Venice's power expanded inland, the patrician families of the lagoon began to invest more and more resources in the countryside after centuries of dedicating themselves to maritime trade. At the center of their properties they built impressive villas to show their refined taste and status. Andrea Palladio in particular, Michele Sanmicheli and many architects were the artists that created some of the most amazing villas. Villa Santa Sofia, Villa della Torre and Punta San Vigilio on Lake Garda are just a few examples of magnificent Venetian villas in the Verona area.

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The development of increasingly strong regional and national states around Venice made it necessary to strengthen the defensive systems outside the cities as well. The polygonal fortress in Peschiera del Garda, built by Sanmicheli, is a splendid example of this.

Our tour guides can structure for you personalized itineraries that touch the major places and monuments to explore the Venetian period in the province of Verona