Verona

The "Ponte Pietra" (= "Stone Bridge") is a Roman arch bridge crossing the Adige River in Verona. The bridge was completed in 100 BC. Four arches of the bridge were blown up by German troops end of World War II, but the bridge got rebuilt in 1957 with original materials.

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The cathedral´s façade. The two storied porch is embellished with sculptures, works of the sculptor Nicholaus (Niccolo), who as well worked at San Zeno in Verona, in Ferrara and Piacenza. Nicholaus signed his work, but I did not find the signature..

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The cathedral´s façade. The two storied porch is embellished with sculptures, works of the sculptor Nicholaus (Niccolo), who as well worked at San Zeno in Verona, in Ferrara and Piacenza. Nicholaus signed his work, but I did not find the signature.. Here is a closer look onto that porch.

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The cathedral´s façade. The two storied porch is embellished with sculptures, works of the sculptor Nicholaus (Niccolo), who as well worked at San Zeno in Verona, in Ferrara and Piacenza. Nicholaus signed his work, but I did not find the signature.. The porch is flanked by two giant griffins. The structure offers a convenient bench for the tourists.

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The two storied porch, of the cathedral´s façade, is embellished with sculptures, works of the sculptor Nicholaus (Niccolo), who as well worked at San Zeno in Verona, in Ferrara and Piacenza. Nicholaus signed his work, but I did not find the signature..

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The two storied porch, of the cathedral´s façade, is embellished with sculptures, works of the sculptor Nicholaus (Niccolo), who as well worked at San Zeno in Verona, in Ferrara and Piacenza. Here is the tympanum. Left to the Madonna is the "Annunciation to the shepherds", to the right is the "Adoration of the Magi". Below are the virtues "Fides", "Caritas" and "Spes".

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The two storied porch, of the cathedral´s façade, is embellished with sculptures, works of the sculptor Nicholaus (Niccolo), who as well worked at San Zeno in Verona, in Ferrara and Piacenza. The lintel below the tympanum depicts the virtues. Here is "SPES" = Hope.

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The two storied porch, of the cathedral´s façade, is embellished with sculptures, works of the sculptor Nicholaus (Niccolo), who as well worked at San Zeno in Verona, in Ferrara and Piacenza. Seen here are four jamb figures of the portal's right side.

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The two storied porch, of the cathedral´s façade, is embellished with sculptures, works of the sculptor Nicholaus (Niccolo), who as well worked at San Zeno in Verona, in Ferrara and Piacenza. Lots of interesting details can be found on the façade, many themed around music and hunting. This one is different. A wolf, dressed as a monk, holding a book. The wolf may be an alumnus of the wolf-schools, that occasionally could be found in medieval times (eg. in Saint-Ursanne and Freiburg).

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The two storied porch, of the cathedral´s façade, is embellished with sculptures, works of the sculptor Nicholaus (Niccolo), who as well worked at San Zeno in Verona, in Ferrara and Piacenza. I knew, that Master Nicolo had signed this work, but for a long time, I could not find the signature. I found it - finally, but it is very difficult to read, so I glued some parts together. The inscription is on a very prominent place - and pretty proud. His name is just behind the lamb. “Artificem gnarum qui sculpserit hec Nicolaum hunc concurrentes laudant per secula gentes”.

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The two storied porch, of the cathedral´s façade, is embellished with sculptures, works of the sculptor Nicholaus (Niccolo), who as well worked at San Zeno in Verona, in Ferrara and Piacenza. Lots of interesting details can be found on the façade, many around music and hunting. Here is a combination of both themes. A harp player is in the center, while dogs chase hares around him.

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The two storied porch, of the cathedral´s façade, is embellished with sculptures, works of the sculptor Nicholaus (Niccolo), who as well worked at San Zeno in Verona, in Ferrara and Piacenza. Lots of interesting details can be found on the façade, many around music and hunting. Here are dogs, a bear, a boar - and (in the shadow) lurks a manticore.

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The two storied porch, of the cathedral´s façade, is embellished with sculptures, works of the sculptor Nicholaus (Niccolo), who as well worked at San Zeno in Verona, in Ferrara and Piacenza. Lots of interesting details can be found on the façade, many around music and hunting. Here is a weathered frieze. From left: a cobbler or a cooper (?), a bearded man picking fruits, a fight between a winged dragon and a warrior, a deer and another animal. But not a kangaroo.

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The two storied porch, of the cathedral´s façade, is embellished with sculptures, works of the sculptor Nicholaus (Niccolo), who as well worked at San Zeno in Verona, in Ferrara and Piacenza. Lots of interesting details can be found on the façade, many around music and hunting. Here are three mythical creatures.

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The construction of the campanile, seen in the back, started in medieval times, but the tower was never completed. The cloister is about where the first cathedral of Verona was placed. Some foundations and mosaics of that church can still be seen in the opposite corner of the cloister.

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The cathedral´s cloister is about where the first cathedral of Verona was placed. Some foundations and mosaics of that church can still be seen behind the iron fence to the very right.

The "Arena di Verona" was erected within the 1. century and is the third largest still existing Roman amphitheatre of the world. It is still in use today and pretty famous for the large-scale opera performances given here during the summer months. In Roman times the arena housed 30.000 people, today the maximum attendance is cut down to 15.000 people. In March the piazza was the meeting place for a group of Venezuelans, protesting against the politics of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela´s president since 2013. During the summer months, you can hear and see this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EBgvyZ4oOs

Already Theodoric the Great, King of the Ostrogoths, may have funded a church, erected over the tomb of Saint Zeno, who, following the legends, was born in Mauretania and died around 380 in Verona. The erection of the present church began in the 9th century. Soon after San Zeno´s relics were translated into the new church. At that time Charlemagne´s son Pepin (aka "Pepin of Italy") resided in Verona and a large Benedictine monastery grew all around the church. The fortified tower (left) was part once of that monastery. When the Magyars invaded Italy in the early 10th century, the church got severely damaged, but the relics were not harmed, as they had been taken out and were hidden. In 967, a new church was built with the patronage of Otto I. On January 3, 1117, the church was damaged by an earthquake, that ruined so many buildings in Northern Italy. The church was restored and got enlarged in 1138.