6 interesting facts about Verona that you might not know

Verona is not only the city of Romeo and Juliet, but a place where history, culture and legends are intertwined in a fascinating and perhaps unique way. Besides the best-known places and stories, however, there are also many curiosities and interesting facts to discover and unusual places to visit. Before planning an excursion or a trip, here are 6 interesting facts about Verona that you should know.

The Pozzo dell'Amore (the well of love)

One of the most evocative and lesser-known sights in Verona is the Pozzo dell'Amore, literally meaning the "well of love", located in the courtyard of an ancient palace in the heart of the city, in Vicoletto San Marco in Foro to be precise. It is one of the must-see sights in the city, even if it is not always part of the usual sightseeing tours.

The legend tells of Corrado di San Bonifazio, a young soldier who fell in love with a girl named Isabella. Since she apparently did not reciprocate the feeling, he challenged the young man to jump into the well, as he compared her to the icy water of the well. The soldier immediately jumped in and the young Isabella, overcome with guilt, followed him.

Various interesting facts about the Verona Arena

The Verona Arena is the city's main monument and perhaps the best known. However, this Roman theatre also has its historical curiosities that you may never have heard of. Did you know that the stones of the outer ring surrounding the arena were used as material to rebuild the city after a strong earthquake in 1117?

Furthermore, few people know that the Arena was also used in the past as a warehouse. This was the case to contain stones from the demolition of the Gavi Arch, also from Roman times and destroyed by the Napoleonic army in 1805. The Arena was used as a 'depot' until 1932. 

Verona Unsplash

Where did Veronetta get its name?

Verona is a city rich in history and neighbourhoods that tell of centuries of evolution and change. One of the most fascinating is undoubtedly Veronetta, located on the left bank of the Adige River. But where does its curious name come from? The explanation is linked to the presence of the French who called this area, in a derogatory way, 'Veronette', as it was occupied by Austrian soldiers.

Veronetta is not the only curious name among the city's neighbourhoods. Exploring them will help you learn even more about the history of this wonderful city and perhaps take the opportunity to look for the house for sale or rent that is right for you.

• Property for sale in Verona
• Long-term rentals in Verona

MZ14, CC BY 3.0 Wikimedia commons

The shop with Roman remains

In the heart of Verona, among the shopping streets and historical buildings, there is a place that surprises tourists and citizens alike: a shop where you can admire Roman remains. Located in Via Mazzini, one of the most elegant and popular shopping streets, this shop offers a unique experience: shopping while admiring the remains of a Roman Verona.

Although this is a special case, it is not uncommon to find shops housed in historical buildings or premises that still show their medieval structure. Even in common shopping, Verona knows how to distinguish itself.

The mouths of complaints

Another intriguing aspect of Verona are the so-called 'bocche delle denunce', ancient stone or metal artefacts embedded in the walls of some of the city's historic buildings. In the past, these mouths were used by citizens to secretly enter reports or denunciations concerning crimes or unlawful behaviour, which were then examined by the competent authorities.

Today, these lion's mouths can be seen during a walk through the streets of Verona and represent a fascinating testimony of how justice was administered in times past. Of course, the note had to contain the signature of the complainant and mention at least three witnesses to be valid.

Mozart's initials in Verona

The city of Verona is not only the scene of love stories and battles, but has also witnessed the passage of illustrious personalities who have left their mark, in the concrete sense of the word. One of these is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the famous Austrian composer who engraved his initials on an organ during his stay in Verona.

The young Mozart visited Verona in 1770. After playing in the church of San Tomaso Becket, the 14-year-old composer engraved his name on the organ built in 1716. This curious testimony can still be seen today.

Franchini Ugolino, CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia commons