All the Roman monuments worth visiting in Verona

Verona is an ancient city, with its earliest settlements dating back to Roman times. Located along the Via Postumia, it became a Roman municipium in 49 AD. It was the Roman Empire that constructed the monuments, palaces, temples, aqueducts, and sewers essential for an urban centre.

Verona reached its peak splendour during the Flavian era, a period that also saw the construction of its magnificent Arena.

What was Verona called in Roman times?

Verona was known as Colle San Pietro and became a Latin colony in 89 BC. It is often referred to as “Little Rome” due to the exceptional preservation of its Roman-era remains, which visitors can still admire today.

Among the most notable Roman monuments in Verona are the Roman Theatre and the Arena of Verona. Although much smaller than Rome’s Flavian Amphitheatre, the Arena of Verona continues to serve as a venue for musical and artistic performances.

Arena of Verona: a Roman amphitheatre

The Arena of Verona is a Roman amphitheatre built in the 1st century AD for gladiatorial contests. Today, it stands as Verona’s most renowned monument and one of the most famous in the world.

It is among the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres globally, alongside those in Nîmes, Arles, Pula, Pompeii, Capua, and, of course, the Colosseum in Rome.

An elevator situated behind the highest tier of seating provides access to the renowned Archaeological Museum of Verona, which houses an extensive collection of vases, mosaics, sculptures, glass artefacts, tools, and sacred and funerary inscriptions.

History of the Arena of Verona

Verona’s Roman Amphitheatre was built to accommodate the growing number of spectators attending gladiatorial contests. Constructed on the foundations of an existing Greek theatre, it was doubled in size and reshaped to form the iconic elliptical structure seen today.

The battles took place at the centre of the arena, while the audience sat around on tiered concentric seating.

How the Arena of Verona was built

When we think of Roman theatres today, we picture them as places of entertainment. However, it is important to remember that, as venues for fierce combat (including fights involving animals) they were often bloodstained, foul-smelling, and notoriously loud, earning a reputation as places of debauchery.

For this reason, they were built away from residential areas. The Arena of Verona was no exception; it was constructed beyond the city walls, equidistant from the two main entrances to the city. Positioned near one of the city’s gateways, this grand amphitheatre was visible to anyone approaching ancient Verona.

To construct such an imposing structure, Roman architects and engineers selected stone from Valpolicella, known as Rosso Verona. This local limestone, sourced from the Lessini mountain range, was favoured for its durability, compactness, and ease of extraction.

All Roman monuments in Verona

Verona is not just its famous Arena; the city is also home to numerous remnants of its ancient Roman past. Among them:

• The Walls of Gallienus, built to protect the city from barbarian incursions, are still visible today in the small square that bears their name, located just behind them.
• The Maffeian Lapidary Museum, situated at the corner of Via Roma, is the second-oldest public museum in Europe after Rome’s Capitoline Museums. It houses an impressive collection of Roman-era inscriptions and sculptural artefacts.
• The Arch of the Gavi, a striking example of a Roman honorary arch dating back to the 1st century AD.
• Corso Cavour, originally laid out along the ancient Via Postumia, leads to Porta Borsari, the main gateway to the city. Built in the 1st century AD, it follows the distinctive architectural style of Imperial Rome.
• The Scaligeri excavations, an extensive underground archaeological site offering a fascinating journey into Verona’s Roman history. Here, visitors can see the well-preserved remains of a 3rd-century AD Roman Domus, featuring a square layout and a central courtyard with a basin designed to collect rainwater.
• Porta dei Leoni, located on Via Cappello, was constructed in the 1st century AD. In front of the gate’s ruins, the base of one of its two defensive towers is still visible.
• Ponte Pietra, a Roman bridge dating back to the 1st century BC.

Article translated by Agnese Giardini

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