Renaissance Verona

From 1405 Verona, as many other cities of north east of Italy fell under the rule of the Republic of Venice that was expanding its territory also in the main land, after having controlled the Mediterranean sea for few centuries. Verona lost its independence but gained almost four hundred years of peace and stability.
In this long period Renaissance style developed and beautiful public buildings of the Venetian administration were built such as the City Council Loggia, the first Renaissance building in Veneto region. Many churches of Verona were restored and renovated in the new style and famous artists such as Pisanello and Mantegna left some of their most important masterpieces in Verona. Many noble families showed their wealth by rising beautiful palaces and decorating their facades with magnificent frescoes. Verona at that time was called urbs picta, painted town. The strategic importance of Verona remained even under Venice domination and to keep up with the development of artillery, new monumental fortifications with gates, towers and ramparts were raised around the town. The project was entrusted to Michele Sanmicheli, one of Italian most important Renaissance architects, who also designed gorgeous palaces and churches in town such as Palazzo Pompei, Palazzo Bevilacqua, the church of St George, Santa Maria in Organo and many others. Verona too suffered the progressive decadence of Venice, crushed by the rising of European powerful nations, of the Ottoman Empire and the new American commercial routes. Few new buildings were designed in the Baroque style but soon Verona found itself again in the turmoil of History with the arrival of Napoleon and the Habsburg Empire in nineteenth century.

Half Day Guided Tour of Venetian Verona

With a two hours guided tour, together with the tourist guides of Verona is possible to visit all the main monuments of Venetian Verona. If the group is coming with its own coach, before the walking tour there will be a panoramic tour along the sixteenth century walls of Verona to admire Michele Sanmicheli's gates: Porta Nuova, Porta Palio, Porta San Zeno and Falconetto's Porta San Giorgio. Along the river Adige it will be also possible to see San Giorgio church with its beatutiful dome, Santa Maria in Organo with Sanmicheli's facade. The walking tour will then unfold in Verona city center to see Renaissance and Baroque palaces with their frescoed facades covering 400 years of Venetian history in Verona: Loggia del Consiglio, Palazzo del Capitano, Case Mazzanti, Palazzo Maffei, Palazzo Pompei, Palazzo Gobetti, Palazzo Guastaverza, Gran Guardia.

Full Day Guided Tour of Venetian Verona

In order to deepen the standard Venetian period Verona tour, here are some additional itineraries to discover all the art and architecture treasures left in Verona by the long period in which Verona was ruled by Venice.

The evolution of Veronese painting with a visit to San Zeno with Mantegna's trittico, San Bernardino church with Benaglio's altarpiece, Micheli Sanmicheli's Pellegrini's chabel and Castelvecchio Museum.

Paolo Veronese

A guided tour to discover the works of Verona most famous painter: San Giorgio and San Paolo with Veronese's altarpieces and Castelvecchio museum.

Verona Churches

A guided tour to discover Verona most beautiful Venetian period churches and the treasures inside them: the Duomo (Cathedral), San Giorgio, Santa Maria in Organo, San Zeno.

Renaissance Palazzos

A guided tour focused on the evolution of Veronese architecture from the fifteen century until the eighteen century: the pre-Renaissance Palazzo Gobetti, Palazzo Canossa, Palazzo Bevilacqua, Palazzo Carlotti, Palazzo Guastaverza, Palazzo Pompei, Palazzo del Capitano and many others.

For additional information or to book one of our exclusive guided tours you can contact Verona Tourist Guides.