Life+in+Verona,+Italy2

=Verona, Italy=

by Sam Levy and Morgan Holleran

So, why learn about Verona, Italy? What does it have to do with Shakespeare? Morgan and I (Sam) set out to learn and research about how Verona ties in with Shakespeare's famous play, __Romeo and Juliet__, as well as the past and present, its geography, and its attractions. Here's what we found:


 * Verona's Past**


 * Verona is a very old city. In fact is so old that its origins are uncertain.
 * In 89 B.C it became a Roman colony. It was established by an ancient tribe, possibly the Euganei or Raeti. It was later occupied by the Gallic Cenomani.
 * Verona soon became a very important place in Europe becaue of its main interesction of roads between Italy and Northern Eurpoe.
 * Many brutal battles took place all over Verona for the next hundred years.
 * Eventually, Verona decided to be part of the small Roman Empire of Venice and becames one of the Kingdoms of Italy in the mid 1800's.
 * In terms of its Roman past, Verona is only second to Rome itself in the quality of its surviving structures. The most remarkable of these, the Arena, is the third largest surviving Roman amphitheatre and is now used for opera. Also from the 1st century AD are the Roman theatre (with adjacent archaeological museum) and two gateways. The Arco dei Gavi (reconstructed in 1932) was erected in the 1st century BC. The Lapidario Maffeiano Museum (1714) contains Greek and Roman antiquities.
 * Verona also was a very wealthy city during the time, home to outstanding archeticture, and was a "renowned medieval center of painting".
 * Brief information on Verona's past, and its history ( http://school.eb.com/all/eb/article-9075136?query=verona%20italy&ct=null ). //For this website just log in and it should pop up.//
 * Shakesphere based one of his most famous dramas here, __Romeo and Juliet__, but there is little eveidence that they actually existed. It's also not known if Shakespeare ever visited Verona or even Italy.




 * Verona' s Present**


 * The city is the center of rail and road connections from northern Italy to central Europe via the Brenner Pass and it links Milan and Venice by rail and road.
 * Verona ships fruits and vegetables to central Europe and is noted for its cereal market and its annual International Agricultural and Horse Fair (since 1898).
 * There are engineering, chemical, and paper industries, sugar refining, and diversified manufactures. Artistic furniture making and work in precious metals and marble are flourishing handicraft industries, and Verona's traditional wines are famous around the world.
 * Today, its population is around 257,600 people.


 * Verona's Attraction's**


 * Today, you can visit "Juliet's house" which are major tourist attractions there becuase of Shkespeare's play. On Juliet's house lovers write each other's names on the wall (graffitti)- which is actually legal at the tourist destination. For years, tourists used bubble gum to [[image:189527_grafittijulietshouse.jpg width="440" height="255" align="right" caption="Graffitti on Juliet's wall"]]stick notes to Juliet on the walls of the house. Last year the gum was removed and white plasterboard put up for those who feel they must write. There is also a letter box at the house, and its missives are collected and answered by the club. These days you can even send an e-mail message to Juliet at info@julietclub.com. Very few letters, oddly enough, are sent to Romeo.
 * "Romeo's house" is basically just a normal house, and hasn't yet been open to the public.
 * A trip to Verona in the eyes of a New York woman. ( http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=9625788&sid=6&Fmt=3&clientId=11667&RQT=309&VName=PQD
 * The Arena is Verona’s ancient amphitheatre. It is the third largest Roman amphitheatre in the world and has been host to many plays, operas, and sporting events.
 * Verona is known for its markets, operas, hotels, and resturaunts.
 * Read ( http://web.ebscohost.com/src/pdf?vid=6&hid=108&sid=bbd0dd71-6950-4ae3-b99b-b0e8617e72da%40sessionmgr7 ) for more information and pictures on Verona attractions as well as pictures and a brief history.


 * Verona's Geography**


 * Located in northern Italy in the region of Veneto.
 * It is situated on the Adige River 60 miles (97 km) west of Venice.
 * Verona is placed between Lake Garda and the Lessini Mountains and Mount Baldo
 * Lungadige Campagnola River, lies next to Verona, which happens to flow through the Northeastern part of Italy.




 * Verona's Ties to __Romeo and Juliet__**


 * One of William Shakespeare's most famous plays is __Romeo and Juliet__, and it happens to be set in Verona, Italy during the 1400s.
 * Even if you haven't read the famous drama, or have seen the play, you know that __Romeo and Juliet__ is a play about "the appeal of the young hero and heroine—whose families, the Montagues and the Capulets, respectively, are implacable enemies—is such that they have become, in the popular imagination, the representative type of star-crossed lovers".
 * For a brief, but very informative, summary check out [|Encycolpedia Brittanica].
 * In class, we will also soon be starting the novel, __Romeo and Juliet__.